the masculine bodies surrounding her.
Then she saw it. There was nothing more than a shadow at first, silently pacing back and forth in the dark recesses of Kate’s mind. She focused, trying to make out details of the shadowy figure. As if sensing it finally had her attention, the shadow stilled, and a fierce growl tore through Kate’s mind as a huge cat bounded out of the darkness.
Chapter Five
Kate gasped, and her hands flew up to Blake’s chest to brace herself. She opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out.
“You see her, don’t you, sweetheart?” Blake’s lips brushed her forehead.
Kate could only nod, still in too much shock to do anything else. The cat inside her head purred at the sound of Blake’s voice and began pacing again. Kate could see it clearly now. Somehow, Kate knew she had always been there, lurking in the back of her mind. With newfound clarity, she realized the part of her that had never felt complete, that had always felt trapped in her own body, was the part of her that belonged to this cat. The big cat’s instincts and emotions were starting to press on her. The cat was becoming impatient, and Kate had no doubt what she wanted.
Jake began stroking Kate’s back in long soothing motions. “Don’t fight her, baby. She’s been trapped for too long. She wants her mates, and she won’t do anything that would cause you to get hurt. Trust her. Trust us.”
Kate’s blood felt like it was going to boil right out of her veins. Her whole body was tense, and she felt like every nerve was exposed. It was uncomfortable, almost bordering on painful. She was pretty sure she could have an orgasm just by thinking about it, but she was almost to the point where she couldn’t think at all. She wanted these men. The big cat pacing in her head wanted—no, make that needed—these men.
“I don’t know what to do.” It was true. Even though she wasn’t a virgin, her only previous sexual encounter was forgettable, at best. It certainly hadn’t prepared her for anything like this.
Drake leaned over and gently pressed his lips to her temple. The simple touch of his lips sent tingles down her spine. He put his mouth to her ear. “You don’t have to do anything, darlin’. We’ll do everything. You just feel.”
Drake’s deep voice and soft breath created a delicious shiver that started at Kate’s head and worked its way down to her toes. She could feel her pussy clench with a need that was growing stronger by the second. Her head was telling her to stop, but her body and the cat inside her mind had other plans. They were apparently in cahoots with each other because they were telling her head to shut the hell up.
Blake cradled her to his chest and stood up in one fluid motion. He walked to his bedroom with Drake and Jake following them. Drake dimmed the bedroom lights, and Jake threw the big fluffy comforter onto the floor. Blake gently lowered Kate so that she was standing, but he kept her pressed against his body.
Blake held her face in his hands and looked into her eyes. “My sweet Kate, I swear we will never hurt you and will always protect you. Can you allow yourself to trust us?”
Kate’s cat leapt forward in her mind, and Kate could swear her growl sounded like a resounding yes . Kate looked up at Blake and then looked to Drake and Jake standing on either side of her. Their bodies were tense, as though they were wound tight but were holding themselves back until they had her answer.
Their eyes shone with such sincerity and hope that Kate felt her heart start to open for these men. She didn’t know them well, but they had already started to tear down the emotional walls she had built around herself. Taking a leap of faith, she reached one hand up and lightly traced Blake’s bottom lip.
“Yes, I trust you.” She looked Drake’s eyes and then Jake’s. “I trust all of you.”
Blake lowered his face to hers and claimed her lips with a slow, gentle kiss. His
Gretchen Galway, Lucy Riot