Chapter Four

Chapter Four

Jud had spent more than one evening in the hand-carved chairs in front of Blake’s fireplace. Sometimes drinking, sometimes talking, sometimes sitting or reading in silence, but always comfortably companionable and relaxed.

Tonight he was waiting for Ashley, and they both knew it.

To Blake’s credit, he took the invasion of his territory with good humor. Good for him, anyway. A grunt and a jerk of his head was practically an engraved invitation, so Jud sank into his usual spot and opened a bottle of whiskey. "How long has she been asleep?"

"A couple of hours." Blake retrieved two glasses from his desk in the corner. "Lucas took her on a tour of the property, and I think the last few days finally caught up with her. She was sleeping hard when I looked."

Possibly a hint that Jud was waiting around for nothing. He couldn’t tell if Blake believed it himself, because there was no just sleeping when it came to the mating heat. The chances were good Ashley would be wandering the halls soon enough, and Blake was probably eager to have a potential rival gone.

Guilt rose hard on the heels of that thought. Blake wasn’t prone to human games of manipulation. If he said the girl was sleeping soundly, he believed it. And if he wanted Jud out of his room, he’d toss him out by the scruff of his neck.

No, Jud was the sneaky asshole here, and he had a feeling they both knew that, too. Especially when, halfway through their second drink, the floorboards creaked in the next room.

Blake knocked back the rest of his liquor and held out a hand for Jud’s glass. "If you wanna stay, there’s one rule."

Intrigued, Jud finished his drink. "And that is?"

"No competitive bullshit." Blake curled his fingers over Jud’s when he reached for the glass, gripping both hard. "Her parents fucked her instincts up. She’s still half-convinced that wanting all of us makes her bad. So if you’re not staying just to get her off, you need to get the fuck out."

Just the chance to touch her would be reward enough--a female wolf, a heavenly creature who didn’t need the tight edge of his control because she was strong enough to take him. Getting her off would be a bonus.

And he’d seen the gleam of curiosity in those big eyes. She wanted more. Darker. They’d all have to trust that her wolf would understand who could give that to her--and who should. "It’s all about her."

"Good." Blake released him and carried both glasses back to his desk as Ashley appeared in the open doorway.

She stood there, her skin flushed and her hair disheveled. The lacy strap of her nightgown hung off one shoulder, and her breasts pressed against the bodice with every shuddering breath.

Blake held out a hand. "Come here, sweetheart."

She didn’t move. "I was asleep," she panted, "and when I woke up I was alone."

Jud started to rise, but power washed through the room. Not a deliberate rush, like Lucas could unleash, but wild and insistent. "You aren’t alone now," Blake rumbled, stalking to the door. "And we won’t leave you alone at night again."

Ashley almost fell into his arms, moaning when Blake hauled her to his chest. He kicked the door shut and turned, a silent command in his eyes.

Jud would have gone to her either way, but it was better like this. Him and Blake, working together instead of competing, hunting the same prey. Her relief, her pleasure.

Her submission.

Her skin was hot when Jud reached them. He slid his hands down her bare arms before gathering her nightgown in his hands. "You’re too warm for this, aren’t you?"

Her head fell back, her hair brushing his hands, as the silky fabric moved over her skin. "Not warm. Hot."

The soft, plump curves of her ass rubbed against him, and he fought a shudder. Arousal hit him fast and hard, along with the image of bending her over the bed with that ass in the air. Blake went so easy with her, he’d probably only given her a few love taps. Nothing rough enough to satisfy that hunger Jud could sense inside her.

Jud could help with that.

He dragged the nightgown higher, up over her head, and cast it toward the bed. Blake’s hands fell to her breasts at once, lifting and squeezing, and those were beautiful, too. Full and heavy, lush.

Jud gathered her hair into his hand and lifted it off the back of her neck. It was a vulnerable spot, charged with danger, and he loved the way she shuddered when he brushed his lips there. "What are we going to do to her, Blake?"

Blake thumbed one tight nipple, driving another noise from her. "Whatever she wants. I’ve been teaching her to use her dirty words and ask."

"You like to tease me," she accused, the sharp bite of the words gentled by her breathy arousal. "All of you."

"We like to wind you up." Jud scraped his teeth over her skin. "Rile your wolf."

Ashley shivered. "It’s a test, isn’t it? No--" She turned in their arms and fixed that burning stare on Jud. "A dance, just like Lucas said."

"A dance," he agreed. "Or sometimes..." He caught her nipple and pinched tight, and she rewarded him with a low, tortured groan. "A hunt."

"Because--" Her voice cracked, and she licked her lips. "Because it’s a drive, like hunger or thirst. Mating."

A drive none of them could deny, not with Ashley rubbing against them, warm and eager and ready. Fucking human women was enjoyable. With the right one, it could even be exquisite. But there was always a part of him that never engaged, a part he hadn’t realized was even there until he sank into Ashley for the first time.

He swept his fingers down the front of her body. No panties to interrupt his exploration, just smooth, feverish skin and the intoxicating wetness his fingers encountered when he reached her pussy.

She closed her eyes with another gasp and leaned back against Blake as he splayed his hand across her belly. Her hand immediately covered his, their fingers twining together.

Jud opened his mouth to suggest moving to the bed, but bit his tongue. Blake had his face buried in her hair and his free hand placed possessively across her throat.

Letting Jud into his room must have been hard enough. For all of Blake’s noble intentions, no doubt he’d balk at extending that tolerance to his bed. Especially if Jud made the first move.

It’s all about her.

He could work with that.

Jud slid his fingers higher, ghosting his fingertips over her clit. Light and glancing, just enough to make her hips jolt. "You never answered Blake. What do you want?"

Her eyes drifted open. They sparked with heat--and a growing awareness. "Blake likes words, but there are different kinds. There’s begging..." She licked her lips again. "And there’s demanding."

Oh, yes. She was strong, and she needed to test herself. Jud could work with that, too. "Haven’t you figured it out yet, honey? It’s all the same to Blake."

Blake hummed his agreement against her cheek. "I’ll give you what you need, either way."

"Then it doesn’t matter what I say." She rocked her hips teasingly.

"Of course it does." Jud shifted his hand and worked one finger into the clenching heat of her body. His cock strained against his pants, as eager as he was to be back inside her. "You make your demands, and we’ll make you beg for it."

She reached out and rubbed the back of her hand over his bulging fly. Hard.

Pleasure spiked so fast he couldn’t choke back his growl. And Blake, the bastard, laughed. "You want his cock, sweetheart? Tell him where."

"Just proving a point." She turned again, facing Blake, and tugged at his belt. "I’m tired of telling. I feel like taking."

Blake’s gaze clashed with Jud’s. No hesitation there. If Ashley wanted to seize control, Blake would let her--and crush anyone who tried to stop her.

Even Jud.