Sex Me Down Read online

  “Yes, Laynee. For now we shall only talk.”

  He refused to lie to her. They would need to claim her this night. He especially. Once he mated with her the first time, it would be simple to acquire her consent or her forgiveness. If he could only manage to make love with her just once, it would begin her addiction to his seed, her dependence upon him as her mate.

  * * * *

  The snick of the lock echoed through the small apartment, seeming loud in the silence of the night. The wooden door stood closed for several moments as they waited for her to gather her courage to come out and greet her mates. The sound of a mumbled prayer reached Fane’s ears as she openly debated whether or not she should trust the two strange men she found in her home.

  His heart in his throat, Fane watched as the doorknob turned. His palms began to sweat as he imagined a million reasons she could have for not exiting that room. He sighed with relief as the door cracked open in small increments. She moved slowly, almost as if she expected to slam it in their faces if they attempted to accost her.

  Sayre backed away from the door, giving her the necessary space to step from the other room.

  Fane panted, his lungs laboring to draw in great gulps of air. The atmosphere in her small home was thick with tension as she inched herself within view. Muscles he didn’t know he’d held clenched, relaxed. He released the breath he’d been holding and sucked in another lungful of her unique scent. Her gaze darted toward him, obviously startled.

  A huge bed sat against the wall in the room behind her. Bathed in silvery moonlight, it tempted him. It taunted him with her nearness. He wanted nothing more than to drag her to that bed and make her his. She may not know it, but she was already his. The Lady Goddess had deemed it so. Already her scent permeated his body. His very cells were fraught with the delicate aroma of her fear and arousal. He wanted nothing more than to sink his cock into her up to his balls. He wanted her beneath him so much, he ached with it.

  A soft light, shone through her bedroom windows. It left her in silhouette, bathing her in the pale radiance of Carrillia’s three moons. He swallowed thickly, already loving the woman whose sleek body tempted him even before he’d seen her face. He knew she was beautiful. There was no doubt. The moonlight bathed her, leaving her standing within a glowing halo of light. This woman was more to him than a mere mate. She was a gift from the Lady Goddess herself. A woman—a mate—he would cherish till the end of his days. What had he done to deserve such a precious gift? Squeezing his eyes closed, he gave thanks for the woman whose life had just been irrevocably tied to his.

  A terrible need slammed through his body as a soft breeze carried more of her enticing scent to him. The tiger in him rose, snarling to be set free. It demanded he claim his mate. His teeth elongated, his nails cut into the palms of his hands. It was all he could do to tame the beast down, hold it leashed deep within him.

  Opening his eyes, he looked at her, drinking in the sight of the woman who would bear his cubs. She was nearly close enough to touch. He fought the urge to sniff the air like the untamed animal he was. His clenched fingers itched to feel the ebony silk of her hair. They longed to touch her milky skin. Still, he managed to keep his hands to himself and the beast leashed. This night must be for her. She must accept him—accept them both. He knew that Sayre told the truth because unbeknownst to the Savari people, he’d traveled to their world undetected and witnessed their customs. There would be no children for any of them if they did not complete the ritual. As one of the rare Savari triads, they must confirm their mating under the moons of Savar.

  Fane’s body burned just as surely as if he’d been struck by lightning. Fire raced through his blood at just the sight of her. The arch of her back, the gentle curve of her breasts with their hard peaks nearly undid him. It was all he could do to keep himself from pouncing on her and laying claim despite her fears.

  She stepped further from the protection of her room and into the soft light from the window behind him. Thick, glossy black hair fell over her shoulders in long waves curling around her full breasts. Gray eyes, framed by the thickest ebony lashes he’d ever seen, rounded with fright as she looked between them. The purple markings of a Carrillian High Priestess graced her cheeks. The intricate tattoos showing the world her high rank among the witches. She licked her full pink lips nervously. His cock sprang to life as he imagined those luscious lips closing around his shaft as he thrust himself inside her perfect mouth.

  Sayre sucked in his breath and Fane almost growled. The bred-in aggression of his kind was hard to overcome. He would rein it in soon. He must. But for now it was hard to swallow the fact that he would have to share his mate after all. He didn’t want to share his woman with another. That had been one of his reasons for searching off-world for a female.

  Still, glancing back at his beautiful mate, his chest expanded with pride. She was even more beautiful than he ever could have hoped. He couldn’t blame the other man for his reaction. She was the loveliest creature Fane had ever seen. His cock twitched out a reminder that he’d not been with a woman in several cycles and he grinned wryly. If he could not control his body’s reaction to his mate, how could he condemn the actions of Sayre?

  Still, the thought of sharing her rankled. His people had begun to war amongst themselves over the lack of available mates. Fane wasn’t the only one of his kind who didn’t want to share his mate with another. Many of the males of his species shared their females with their close friends or brothers, yet some wanted a mate of their own. He and his twin cousins left Tigeria together on this quest for a mate. They too searched the worlds for a woman of their own. Since they always shared everything between them, he could only hope they would be as lucky in finding a willing woman with the courage to love them both. Men were killing each other in the streets over fickle women who could not decide between them. That was what sent him off-world in search of his one true mate. Only a true bond-mate would keep to him and him alone. He had found her. And still he had to share. He tightened his fists, blood welling in his palms as he his frustration called to his inner beast.

  He braced himself as he waited for her to approach, hiding his clenched hands behind his back. He’d agreed to this. If not vocally, at the very least he had approved this triad bond by changing to his human form in front of two off-worlders.

  He watched as Laynee took one hesitant step after another away from the safety of her bedroom and he smiled encouragingly. Not only was she beautiful, but she was courageous. A fitting mate for him. The alpha female of his house must be a woman of courage and strong character. She was frightened. He could smell it. And still she moved to join them. He found that he could do no other than admire the demonstration of her courage through her fear as she entered the room and gave them both a wobbly smile.

  * * * *

  What now? Laynee asked herself as she glanced between the two men. Sayre looked just like his brother. She blinked slowly. Tall, dark and handsome, he was the epitome of masculine beauty. Though something about him was different from Dare. Was it the same type of difference she saw between herself and her sister? Or was it just that her mate was the more handsome of the two men? Age before beauty. The thought came unbidden as she realized she stood gaping at the younger of the two Raden brothers. Perhaps it was the inner strength she could sense beneath his mental shield to his soul beneath. What she saw awed her. Here was a man worthy of love. But was she worthy of his love?

  She couldn’t help the shiver of desire that shot up her spine, or the answering moisture she felt in her netherparts, soaking her panties.

  A half smile on Sayre’s face gave him an almost dangerous, rakish look and she wondered what thoughts danced behind his strange amber eyes to give him such an enigmatic expression.

  “I don’t wish to alarm you, Laynee, but …” He grinned. “… I can read your mind.” He gave her a shallow bow. “Thank you.”

  “Oh!” Blood rushed to her face, searing her cheeks in a blush. She dropped h
er gaze to the floor. Lady, how could I be so stupid, so…so wanton? She attempted to clear her mind of its rampant thoughts to play hostess to her guests. What more could she do? She certainly must get to know them before she agreed to mate with them.

  A rumbling growl distracted her and she turned to the other man. She nearly gasped when he stepped into the light. Goddess, he was tall. White-blonde hair fell over his tanned, well-muscled shoulders. The pitch-black ends nearly brushed his flat brown nipples. Startling blue eyes stared back at her unblinking, like the cat he was. High, wide cheekbones gave his straight nose prominence in his too handsome face. She would have been hard pressed to choose between the two men if the need ever arose.

  She let her gaze rove recklessly over his perfect form as she admired his muscular arms and chest. A light dusting of hair tapered down over his stomach to his—Laynee jerked her gaze back up, her face burning hot with another blush. By all that is holy, she should have realized he would have no clothes! The last thing she’d expected was to see the man’s erect penis winking at her as if she were a Carrillia-faire prize.

  Desire coiled through her at the sight of his large uncovered shaft. Moisture pooled in her middle, making her womb clench. The inner contraction sent her woman’s cream out to wet the silk of her panties. She must clear her mind of that sight! Laynee closed her eyes and swallowed. Gathering what little of her wits remained about her, she tried to start a conversation.

  “Would you,” she said licking her lips, trying to forget the experience of seeing her first naked male. “Would you care to have a seat?” she asked, her gaze shifting to Sayre. It was easier to talk to him, he was clothed.

  “I don’t mind if I do.” He strode over to the couch, picked up the lap-blanket she used to cover herself on cold nights and tossed it to the Tigerian. What had he said his name was again?

  “Fane,” the man said as he accepted the blanket from Sayre and wrapped it around his waist. “My name is Fane. I am glad to finally meet you, mate.”

  She covered her face with her hands. “Don’t tell me you can read my mind too!” Her cheeks burned, rivaling the liquid fires of Mount Galinor. She was no stranger to telepathy though she’d gotten out of practice since Jaynee left Carrillia. It was too difficult to communicate over long distances.

  He graced her with a crooked smile that nearly drove the breath from her lungs. The flash of those even white teeth was nearly her undoing. How could any man be so devastatingly handsome? Both of them were. Sayre was much more handsome than his brother. Fane, with his light blue eyes and sinful body was obviously Sayre’s equal in all things. Each one of her mates by himself was more man than she’d ever dared hope to have. And there were two of them.

  She strode over to the sofa and collapsed onto the center cushion, her eyes closed tight. Lady Goddess, how did she ever get into these messes? She was a good girl, always an avid student, a voracious reader. How had she come to this end?

  Sitting up straight, her eyes opened wide when the cushions on either side of her dipped with the weight of an occupant. Looking from one to the other, she couldn’t manage to say a thing. With Sayre on her right and Fane on her left, she could do nothing but gape at the two men as they sat close, boxing her in between them. Her entire body quivered. What was happening to her? Was this feeling in the pit of her stomach the desire she’d read so much about in her romancer tomes?

  Sayre rested his arm on the back of the sofa at her neck and Fane half turned to face her, keeping her within his sight.

  “Um …” she licked her lips, not quite knowing what to say. “I—I don’t think this is a very good idea.” Of course it wasn’t. She couldn’t think when they were this close to her. She needed space to keep her head clear. Her inner alarm shrieked with their closeness. Her insides melted with the knowledge that these two wonderful male specimens were her mates and sooner or later they would want to claim her for their own. Her heart slammed in her chest at the idea that they would both want to claim her this night and she nearly whimpered with trepidation.

  Would they understand that she feared the union? Would they be patient with her because she’d never known the touch of a man?

  She stared down into her lap, twisting her fingers as she worried about the things to come, nearly forgetting the two men could read her every thought. A gentle finger slid down her right cheek and she turned to Sayre.

  “I—I don’t think I can do this.” Her whole body began to tremble and she started to stand.

  “Do what, natoya?” Sayre asked, moving to bring her back against the sofa, his hands gentle. “We are only talking. No one has insisted you do something you are not ready to do.”

  She looked up at him, needing to make him understand. “But I know you will. Eventually you will want me to—to …” She waved her hands. “You know what I mean. Don’t make me say it.” Her cheeks heated with her mortification. Must they always make her voice everything? They knew what she meant. They had to. Did they really need to hear that she feared the physical intimacy they would both expect from her this night? It was one thing to read about it, to crave it in her dreams. It was something completely different to live it. She wasn’t sure she could.

  “It is your destiny,” Fane said, resting his hand lightly on her thigh.

  “Will you two stay out of my head?” She wrenched away and stood, trying to escape them. All she wanted to do was to run back to her room where she could lock herself in, where she would once again be safe.

  And alone, Laynee. Do you really want to remain alone, with only your dreams to warm you?

  The strange voice in her head gave her pause. Who are you?

  You know who I am. Your sister told you I would come to you. The universe needs your unique talents to defeat the Banarts. Without you and your mates, all is for naught. I must have you all.

  Laynee nearly cried out with her frustration. I don’t think I can. I don’t know how to love. Not like that. I’m not who you want, who you need. She paced across the room, her hands wrapped around her middle, trying to sort out the myriad feelings zinging through her.

  Never fear, you know how to love these two men just the way they each need to be loved. You are the only one capable of it. Only you have the power to see deep into these men’s souls. Only you can see their true worth. This is your one chance at love, Laynee. At life. Do not pass this up for fear or your need for safety. Remember, the truly courageous are those who are frightened of the unknown, yet do not allow that fear to stop them from doing what they most want to do. You know you want those two men. Your mind may lie to you but your body and your heart never learned how to lie. Listen to them.

  Laynee stopped pacing and sighed. She wasn’t sure, but she suspected the voice was that of the Lady Goddess. Who would know more about what she was capable of than the Great Mother herself? She knew Laynee’s every strength, every weakness and still the Lady insisted that this was the one thing she was meant to do.

  She turned back to the men sitting on her sofa and suppressed a smile. She knew one thing. She really needed to get Fane some clothes. He couldn’t seem to keep himself covered. She blushed and looked away when she remembered they could read her mind. Fane covered himself and they both held out their hands, inviting her to join them. Should she join them, or should she run for the relative safety of her bedroom? She looked from them to her bedroom door and gauged the distance. She was sure she could make it.

  Turning back to the two drop dead gorgeous men sitting in her living room, she sighed and turned her back on her room. She wanted this. She wanted them and the only way to have them was to agree to the claiming. Swallowing around the lump in her throat she gathered her courage around her like a blanket, lifted her chin and approached her mates.

  * * * *

  Sayre swallowed thickly. Do you see that, Fane? She wears her courage like a badge. It shimmers around her, keeping her warm in its embrace.

  Fane’s eyes widened. Is that what that is? I see the magic surro
unding her. I’m not sure she’s aware she does that. It makes her even more beautiful than before and I didn’t think that was possible.

  Neither did I, Sayre agreed. He watched silently, waiting for her to approach on her own. It must be her choice to join with them. He would not be a party to taking any female—especially his mate—against her will. He knew Fane would not either. It was just as well. Being so much alike would make them good triad mates.

  Laynee took their outstretched hands and they attempted to pull her down beside them. She shook her head and pulled, urging them to stand. She released them when they did so.

  Staring down at her feet, she twisted her fingers in her robe. The glow surrounding her grew stronger, brighter as she stood before them, her head bowed. Raising her head, she stared over their shoulders, obviously unable to meet their gaze. Taking a deep breath, she stubbornly thrust out her chin and took turns looking between them.

  “I know that I must accept you—accept both of you. I know who you are.” Her gaze faltered and she took a deep breath. Closing her eyes, she drew more energy into the sphere surrounding her. “I know what you are—what you need of me. But I’m afraid.”

  She turned to pace away from them, her hands still twisting the fabric of her robe, a nervous reaction Sayre was sure she was unaware of.

  “I need you to understand. I’ve lived my life in the shadow of my sister. I’ve never been recognized for doing anything in my own right. I finally have the chance to show myself…” she paused, her gaze darting around the room as if searching for what to say next. “To show others who I really am. Not as Jaynee’s little sister. But as me, as Laynee.” She bit her lip, fat tears streaking down her face.

  She held her hand up when he would have stopped her. “Now you’re asking me to give it all up. Plus, I’m not as strong as my sister. Ask anyone. They will tell you. I’ve never even been with one man before, never mind two. I don’t—” Her breath came out on a sob. “I don’t know what to do. I don’t have the first idea how to please you both.”