Two for Protection (9 page)

“I’m never
alone.” Devon nodded to Milo and Tad, who were both aiming at Jeffery.

Jeffery
glanced over at them.

“Put
the fucking gun down!” Tad hollered. The distraction gave Leo the opportunity
he needed to jab his elbow into Jeffery’s stomach and get out of the man’s
grip. The gun went off, hitting Devon in the shoulder. “Shit!”

Milo
and Tad fired nearly simultaneously. Bullets cut through Jeffery’s chest,
sending him stumbling backward. Blood stained the snow red as he staggered back
before falling.

“Devon,
are you okay?” Milo asked as he covered Tad, who was checking Jeffery for a
pulse.

“Bastard
shot me.” Devon bitched, his fingers instantly going to his shoulder. “Ava’s
going to be pissed I ruined another coat. Why don’t they ever shoot you, Leo?”

“Guess
I’m too quick for them.” Leo teased. “You’re just getting old, Devon.”

“You’re
full of shit.” Devon glared at Leo before turning to his son. “Is he dead?”

Tad
nodded and holstered his gun. The muscles in his shoulders were tense with
unspent energy.

They
had been looking forward to a fight. Now it was over and the beasts within them
refused to be sated. Milo slid his gun into his shoulder holster and looked to
Leo. “Sheriff, I’d like to let Courtney know she’s safe.”

“Go
ahead. You too, Tad. I’ll need an official statement, but that can wait. Get
back to your mate and let her know this is over. We’ll be traipsing through
Lisa’s property for some time yet, but at least everyone’s safe and no one
shifted.” Leo nodded to Devon. “You have to wait. With the others not far
behind, you can’t shift now. You’ll have to let the medic attend to you and
then you can go meet her.”

“It
would be better if no one got hurt,” Devon complained, causing Tad to roll his
eyes at his father before he started back to the house.

“Devon,
you’re worse than a woman. A little bullet wound won’t kill you.” Leo growled.

“Sadly
enough, I don’t feel relieved that it’s over. I needed more action. That bastard
should have suffered the terror he inflicted on her.” Tad growled, stopping on
his way to the house.

“I
know the feeling. My beast wants to be let out. The important thing is she’s
safe. How about we burn this energy off with our mate?” Milo suggested.

“I
can’t think of anything better.”

That
idea seemed to please Tad. It sure did wonders for Milo.

Chapter Eleven

Courtney
sat by the fireplace in the study, her legs pulled under her as dread coursed
through her. What would she do if something happened to them? Everything in her
demanded she go to them. It was her fight and she should be out there. Turi
stood by the door blocking her passage. Even Tate was near the window, stopping
her from trying to peek outside for any sight of what might be happening.

“I
can’t just sit here.” She stood and began pacing the small area. The walls
seemed to close in around her as the minutes passed.

“There’s
nothing you can do. They would just be distracted making sure you were safe, so
just sit down. I know my brother, he’ll be back soon.” Turi tried to reassure
her. “How about I tell you about the time Taber, Thorben, and Tad snuck off the
island. They took Dad’s boat, thinking they’d never be caught and tried to come
over to the mainland.”

“What
happened?”

“Not
much. They watched something on the news about a club in Anchorage, and thought
Nome must have one they just didn’t know about. They weren’t too smart back
then, and sure as hell not very quiet. Dad heard them, but instead of stopping
them he followed with his brother.” Turi chuckled before continuing. “They took
the boat back, leaving my idiot brothers stranded.”

“How
did they get home?”

“Leo
called Dad,” Tad said, opening the door.

Uninterested
in the rest of the story, she ran to him, wrapping her arms around him. “You’re
okay!” Tears streamed down her face. “Where’s Milo?”

“Right
here, darling.” Milo stepped out of Tad’s shadow, wrapping his arms around her.
“I told you everything would be fine.”

“Jeffrey?”

“Dead.
He’s no longer a threat to you,” Tad whispered before pressing his lips to
hers.

“Devon
was shot in the shoulder. He’ll be up once the medics attend to him.” Milo took
the hands of his mates and led them toward the door. “If you’ll excuse us.”

She
allowed herself to be led away, her heart fluttering. Everything was over, and
her life was changing—hopefully in a good way. Weeks ago when all this started,
all she could think about was getting her life back, getting back to her job. Now
work seemed unimportant. No longer did she care about chasing down the hottest
stories in the name of news. All she knew was she wanted her future to include
a lot of time with these two men—naked.

The
hallway seemed smaller, trying to squeeze down it with two bulky bodies on each
side of her. Occasionally an elbow would bump against the wall as they tore off
their clothing. Tad’s shirt was the first to go because there wasn’t a shoulder
holster to worry about. Followed closely by hers.

By the
time they made it to the bedroom door, she was out of breath and every ounce of
her screamed for them. She turned into Milo’s body after he sat his gun and
holster on the dresser, tugging at the buttons of his shirt. Meanwhile, Tad
pressed against her back, his shaft hard against the crest of her butt as he
kissed a path along her shoulder and up the nape of her neck.

Milo’s
hand tangled in her hair, pulling her close to him as he claimed her mouth. The
underlying tension that had tightened her men since she met them was gone. Relief
that it was over, and she was all theirs without any danger lurking, relaxed
them. Exploring his mouth, she realized just how much she enjoyed the
connection. It let her feel what they were feeling, keeping her completely in
tune.

Her
soft moan was muffled only by Milo’s mouth as she reached back to touch Tad, her
hand gliding along the side of his chest. The hardness of his muscles made her
want to turn to him and explore them, to run her fingers along the groves, to
feel them constrict as his excitement grew.

Tad
unhooked her bra, sliding it down her arms before his fingers found her
nipples. Breaking the kiss she threw her head back in pleasure, resting it on
Tad’s chest. Never before had her nipples held such sensitivity. They felt like
a direct like to her core, sending a burning fire of need through her.

“Please,
I need you…”

“Who
do you need?” Milo asked, a joyful light in his eyes letting her know he was
pleased she was enjoying herself.

“Both
of you. Take me…however you please.” Earlier, she’d thought one would tire of
her eventually, that there was no way she could divide her attentions equally
between them. In that moment, she knew it didn’t matter. They’d find a way to
make it work, because it was what they wanted. She wanted them, both of them,
in every way.

“Mate,
you have too much clothing on.” Milo reached down and unsnapped her jeans,
tugged them off her, and gently pushed her back onto the bed.

Landing
with a flop, she wasn’t surprised when the mattress depressed on each side of
her. Surrounded by their naked bodies, she reached out to them only to have Tad
capture her wrists in one of his large hands.

“Lay
back,” Tad ordered, slipping his hand between her legs. His finger slipped
between her folds, finding the bundle of nerves and teasing them gently. Milo
cupped her breasts and gently swirled his thumbs against the hard buds,
pinching them. Pain mingled with pleasure and her back arched.

Sparks
fired inside her. The sensations collided, sending her head spinning as desire
rushed through her. Her legs shook as Tad brought her closer to climax. She sought
it with everything she had, wiggling against his hand, searching for the final
touch that would send her over the edge.

“Oh no
you don’t.” Tad placed his hands on her hips and rolled her over to slip
between her legs. “I want to watch you take Milo while I’m inside of you. I
want to feel your orgasm as your muscles tighten around me.”
He
lined up behind her and she shuddered with the contact as he thrust into her
from behind, his hips slapping against her ass.
Her core ached from
their earlier eagerness, making her so sensitive she nearly came again.

Liquid
heat melted through her and she stretched out a hand to caress the length of
Milo’s shaft.

“Come
here,” she whispered, pulling gently on his manhood.

He
slid down in front of her until she was able to take him into her mouth.
Drunk
on the need to have them both, she swirled her tongue around the tip, sucking
it hard, forcing a groan from him. Drawing him into her, he reached down to cup
the back of her head, speeding her pace.

As Tad
pounded into her, she was able to take Milo’s entire length into her mouth,
working back and forth until their bodies sang together in perfect harmony. Waves
of ecstasy engulfed them, and Milo was the first to cry out as he filled her
mouth with cum. She writhed beneath Tad, swallowing Milo’s juices as another
wild climax spiraled through her. Moments later, Tad cried out as he slammed
home a final time and came, filling her.

Tad
slipped out, moving to the side of her, his arm still around her. Her body
curved around Tad’s, Milo cuddling against her back, his arm draped over both
of them. Tilting her head up, she met their gazes and smiled. Somewhere in the
mix of it all she had falling in love with them, so much that she was willing
to give up Texas, the excitement of chasing after the next news story,
everything, as long as she could stay with them.

“What
has you a million miles away from us?” Milo drew light circles up and down her
arm.

“I was
just thinking about how much my life is going to change.” She paused, trying to
figure out how to convey exactly what she was feeling. “Things that meant so
much to me before have lost their meaning. It’s like I see the world through
new eyes. Everything is so bright, there are colors that weren’t there before.
A quiet evening by the fireplace is now appealing, whereas just last week I
couldn’t stand an idle moment.”

“What
exactly are you saying?” Tad pressed.

“That
what I thought I wanted all these years, a fast paced journalism career, isn’t
as important as I thought it was. I don’t want to return to Texas. Not if it
means losing you two.”

“No
matter where you want to be, there’s no chance of losing us.” Milo kissed the
nape of her neck.

“I
want to stay in Alaska. I don’t care if it’s right here, the Brown Island, or
your compound. Wherever, as long as I have you at my side it will be home.”

“Well…”
Milo rose up on an elbow and looked down at them both. “I hope you mean that
because my Alpha, Ty, has requested my assistance. I was hoping to convince you
to come back to the compound once the weather clears. Your mother will meet us
there. I’ll give you as much time as I can, but there’s an urgent matter in
Minnesota I must attend to.”

“Urgent
matter?” She rolled onto her back so she could see Milo.

“Tabitha
has begun to take her place as the Queen of the Tigers. Her first step is to start
uniting the tigers as one. In order to do that she needs each clan’s Alpha to
accept her as a ruler above them. Ty believes I can get the Minnesota clan’s
Alpha, Calvin, to come around since we have a history together. I gave my word
that once the blizzard was over I’d make arrangements to fly there and speak
with him in person.”

She
turned to Tad, sliding her hand down Tad’s chest. “Will you go?”

He
smirked. “You don’t think I’d let you out of my sight now, do you?”

“Tad’s
our mode of transport anyway.” Milo laughed. “All the Brown brothers have a
pilot’s license, so they tend to be our chauffeurs. There are a few others who
can fly among my clan, but with the Browns you get a pilot and warrior in one.
You don’t have to worry about taking a pilot on a mission who’s going to be
collateral damage.”

“You
only claimed me as a mate so you would have a personal pilot at your beck and
call.” Tad teased Milo.

“You’ve
discovered my secret.”

She
snuggled against her men, enjoying the easy banter between them. There would be
another few days of craziness before things settled down. The visit with her
mother would be interesting to say the least.

Oh,
how that woman can rub me the wrong way.

There
had never been a time they’d gotten along. Her mother might be proud of her as
Milo and Tad claimed, but she never said it to Courtney. No, it was always that
she could do better if she worked a little harder. The visit promised to be stressful.

* * *

With a
string of curses, Milo tossed the phone on the dresser. His damn shoulder injury
acting up was a blessing and a curse. It gave him more time with Courtney, but
he wasn’t there when his clan needed him. He hated being out of the action,
even if he was enjoying other exploits.

“What’s
happening?” Tad stepped out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist.
His hair dripped, sending little rivets down his chest.

“A
small group of rogues tried to attack the compound about an hour ago. It’s
under control now. I believe they’ve gathered some information from the
captured. Taber was shot during the raid. Bethany has healed him, but he’s in
no condition to fly, not that I think Kallie would allow him out of her sight
right now.” Milo looked at Tad, thinking of how much the Brown family truly
risked for his clan. “Adam will be bringing the helicopter, there’s enough of a
break in the weather that he’ll be leaving soon. Now we don’t have to worry
about the airport reopening, he can land here.”

“My
damn family has an attraction to bullets.” Tad growled.

“He’s
okay. Just grumpy, but all you bears are grumpy.” Milo did his best to lighten
the mood. “I think it’s more Kallie keeping him at the compound than anything
else. It was too close of a call for her after everything she’s been through.
Those brothers of yours are like her security blanket. She’s been through a lot
in her life, you can’t blame her.”

“No,
but I can blame Taber for getting himself shot.”

“Who
got shot?” Courtney came up behind Tad. Jeans rode low on her hips, a tight tank
top stretched tight across her chest and flat stomach. Her long hair was wet and
shiny.

“My
idiot brother.” Tad slipped his arm out, catching her before she could squeeze
past him. He tugged her against his body, dipping his head toward her before
Milo cleared his throat to stop them.

“Adam
will be here soon, so as much as we’d like to go back to bed and enjoy our new
relationship I suggest we don’t.”

“My
sweet Milo, always the logical one.” She turned to him, smiling.

“I
can’t help it. Plus, your mother arrived and she’s putting up a fit for someone
to bring you there or she’s coming after you.” He glanced to Tad. “Your father
and Turi are waiting to speak with you before they return to the island.”

“Now
why do I have the desire to say ‘yes sir’ when he say things like that?” Tad
smirked before letting go of Courtney and crossing the room to the clothes laid
out on the bed.

“Someone
needs to keep you in line.” Milo adjusted his shoulder holster and slid his gun
home. “I need to see to Tate and Hazel. While I’m gone, please do your best to
be ready before Adam arrives. We won’t have much time before the second storm
hits.” He grabbed his jacket and slid his arm into it as he strolled from the
room.