The three of us crashed onto the bed, tearing off each other’s clothes in a heated frenzy.
I grabbed the man and started kissing him, but the warm press of the woman’s lips on my breasts made me gasp.
Before I knew it, I had given over my body to their hands and lips. I twisted and flexed under the intense pleasure that gripped every muscle and nerve ending.
They took turns entering me. Him with his penis and her with her fingers and tongue.
I felt everything tighten and a pressure start to build inside me.
I was so hot, bordering on delirious. My skin was covered in sweat, and I could barely catch my breath.
“I’m going to come!” I cried out.
I grabbed the woman and pulled her face into mine. We locked lips, our tongues touching blissfully, sensually.
And in that instant, everything was released in a violent eruption, waves of hot contractions shaking my body. All the air rushed out of my lungs, and my mouth opened in a silent scream.
I clung to her, and she held me, staring at me with her dark, reassuring eyes.
The orgasm left me completely limp. I felt like I had just run a marathon and the only parts of me still working were my heart and lungs.
“Did you have a good time?” the woman asked.
“You’re joking, right?” I said, still catching my breath. “Yes. I had a very good time.”
“Good. So did we,” she replied, smiling. She and her partner lay down on either side of me and stroked my body gently with their fingertips.
I lay there for a half hour and watched them make love while I gained my strength back. For some reason, I felt at ease with them in a way I had never experienced with any of my previous lovers.
As I left, they both offered a parting kiss.
“Maybe we’ll see you again,” said the woman, pulling me into her embrace.
I smelled her one last time. I didn’t want to let go.
“Yes, I’d like that.”
After the morning I’d had—what with the council meeting and the arrival of the haze—I desperately needed Michelle to inject some levity into my day.
So she and I were at Winston’s, splitting a basket of fries while we each sucked down a milkshake.
It was an average diner with nothing redeeming about it other than the fact that it was ~consistently~ average, but it had always been the place where my friends and I hung out before Michelle and I were mated.
“Having these stooges around instead of Mia and Erica certainly changes the mood,” Michelle commented as she shook a fry at our security detail.
True, but I’d gotten that feeling again—like someone was watching me—a few times when I’d left my parents’ house. So I was glad for their presence.
“Do you guys want some?” She offered the greasy basket of deep-fried potatoes. “If you’re going to stand there, you might as well join the conversation.”
“I’m fine, ma’am, thank you,” one of the bodyguards replied in an emotionless drone.
“Suit yourself,” she said, rolling her eyes. “So, Si, have you and Aiden done the deed yet? Josh was driving me home from the pack house when the haze hit, so we had to pull over and do it right there on the side of the road.
“I don’t know if it was the confined space, the fact that people could see us, or just the fact that I was riding my mate, but it was the best sex I’ve ever had.”
“Oh my God, Michelle, we’re in public.”
“What? When did you become such a prude?”
The bell that hung above the door rang, and I looked up to see a dapper man looking around the diner. Upon seeing Michelle and me, he immediately perked up and headed toward our table.
But the man barely got within ten feet before a large hand shot out and grabbed him.
“Whoa, I’m just a courier,” he said, holding up an envelope. “I have a letter to deliver to Sienna Norwood from her mother-in-law.”
Great, what did Charlotte want with me now?
The bodyguard took the envelope and handed it off to the other guard, who handed it off to me. I tore open the top and pulled out a sickeningly ostentatious invitation.
“What’s the old bag want?” Michelle inquired, slurping the last bit of milkshake from her glass.
“It’s an invitation to a luncheon tomorrow afternoon,” I said warily. “She wants me to be the guest of honor.”
“Aiden, do you have a minute?” I asked, hurrying to catch up to him in the hall.
“Sure, Josh. What’s on your mind?”
“I was looking for the list of charities we’re donating to this holiday season, and I can’t find it.”
“Sienna is taking care of that.”
I let out a long exhale. This was going to be harder than I thought. How was I supposed to tell him that his mate was dropping the ball without pissing him off?
I didn’t mind having Sienna on the council. Really, I didn’t. As the alpha’s mate, she had every right to be involved in the governance of the pack. What I did mind, however, was all the drama it was stirring up.
I liked to think I was a pretty chill beta, but I still needed to run the pack as smoothly and efficiently as possible.
Not only because it was my job, but also because Aiden was my best friend. If I performed well it made his life a little bit easier. That was what best buds did for each other.
All this overlap between his home life and pack life, though, was causing some major problems.
That wasn’t to say I thought Aiden and Sienna should sweep their differences under the rug, but given the current arrangement, when they fought, the whole pack suffered.
“Great, but I kinda need the list by Friday at the latest. Otherwise, the funds might not get delivered in time. I’m more than happy to do it if she’s busy.”
“No, I’ll remind her when she gets back.”
He~ still~ wasn’t getting it. If this was how dense he was with Sienna, I could understand why she was pissed at him. I guess I needed to be more direct.
“Look, Aiden. I get that this has been a difficult time for Sienna, but her focus has been on everything but pack work. Frankly, it’s easier for me to just do things myself than have to micromanage her.”
I held my breath, waiting to see which version of Aiden I was about to get.
“I said I’ll talk to her about it,” he snapped. “You’ll get your list.”
I knew not to push him once I’d gotten a reaction like this. At least I’d said my piece. Now it was time to clear out before he blew up.
^THE NEXT MORNING^
I watched as the pack house dining hall was transformed with place settings and spreads so extravagant you’d think the Alpha of the Millennium was coming to visit.
“Mom, this is exactly the kind of thing I asked you ~not~ to do.”
“I haven’t the faintest idea what you’re referring to, Addy. I’m simply organizing a nice lunch for your mate and a few of her friends and family.”
She’d ~always~ done this, I realized—reframed things to suit her own version of reality—even before Aaron had died.
Sometimes I wondered if she really believed the things she said, but there was always a part of me that remained skeptical. She seemed too cunning to fall victim to such willful delusions.
After Sienna and I had our moment in the council chamber yesterday, I talked with my parents and asked them to relocate to a place in the city.
But I didn’t want to tell Sienna until it was a done deal. My mother had asked if it could wait until the end of today and I’d agreed.
Now I realize it was probably so she could plan ~this~.
“That goes over here, dear,” called my mother, motioning to one of the staff. “Who put this spoon out? Can’t you see it’s smudged?”
She was up to something, I was sure of it.
“Addy, shoo-shoo. This luncheon is just for us gals. Go take care of your pack.”
I gave her one last glance, hoping to uncover any trickery that might be lurking in her eyes. But Sienna had seemed oddly receptive when she’d told me about the lunch this morning, so maybe they were both willing to turn over a new leaf.
If that was the case, I wasn’t about to get in the way.
I ran my hands over my skirt, smoothing it out before I went down the hallway toward the dining hall.
I’d wanted to wear pants, but Michelle convinced me that would be too casual, so I’d thrown on some tights and a heavy winter dress I borrowed from Selene.
It helped that Aiden kept the pack house toasty during the winter months, but I was still salty knowing that I’d dressed up for Charlotte’s sake.
“Good afternoon, Mrs. Norwood,” said the eager page who was posted outside the door, a wide-eyed teen with dirty-blonde hair French braided into a neat bun and two beauty marks on her left cheek.
“Is there a password?” I asked after she failed to move.
“Oh, I’m so sorry, I’m such a hat rack! I was distracted by your dress. It’s so pretty. Oh my God, am I allowed to talk to you this much? I’m so sorry. I never know when to shut up.”
“It’s okay. You’re fine,” I replied, smiling. “Thank you for the compliment. I love how you’ve done your hair.”
“Really?” She beamed. “Thank you, Mrs. Norwood. It’s such an honor to meet you. You’re my biggest role model.”
“What do you mean?”
“Everything you’re doing for young she-wolves. Letting us know that we get to make our own decisions. It’s empowering to see our lady alpha take the stance you did at the festival.”
I wasn’t sure how to respond. The whole idea of me being a role model took me by surprise. Selene had joked with me about it, but I’d never thought anything of it.
What’s more, this girl couldn’t have been more than a few years younger than I was. How could she look up to me?
“Thank you for the kind words,” I said, “but I don’t want to keep them waiting in there.”
“Of course, I’m sorry I held you up, Mrs. Norwood.” She bowed her head and opened the door.