Katie's Mates (4 page)

“I’m okay, just trying to talk this bear out of hurting me. Nathan, how do we scare him, make him leave? Why isn’t he moving to attack you?” She stayed on the ground, wanting to run to Nathan but worried that any sudden movements would make the bear attack.

“Back off.” Nathan tilted his head toward the forest. It only took those two words for the bear to leave. He turned and trotted off.

“Who are you, the bear whisperer? Jeez, I actually thought I was gonna die.” She didn’t move to get up, even though a part of her wanted to jump into his arms. Nathan walked over and knelt down next to her, moving his hands over her body, touching her everywhere. She couldn’t move. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the feeling of his big, muscular hands moving along her legs.

“Are you hurt? Jesus, Katie, I can’t believe that you jumped out that damn window.” She couldn’t speak. The feel of his hands on her body was almost too much, but then again it wasn’t enough. She wasn’t shivering. Her body felt hot, and she moaned deep.

“Where are you hurt? Right here?” He put his hand on her hip, and she moved, wanting him to cup her pussy, wanting to feel the friction on her clit. She shifted, forcing his hand where she wanted it. When his fingers brushed against her pussy, she groaned deep in her throat.

“She’s not hurt, Nathan. Look at her face. She just wanted your hand on her little pussy.” She had been so deep in thought, wanting Nathan, that she never heard Lucas walk up. He was watching her, and Katie rolled her eyes. The moment was over. She had been so close to begging Nathan for more, but with Lucas staring at her, she realized that now wasn’t the time. She moved, stretching her muscles before she stood up. It took her a minute to get her bearings. When she put pressure on her right foot, she cringed and realized that she must’ve hurt it when she jumped out of the window.

“Shit. You did hurt yourself.” Nathan moved quickly, picking her up and pulling her close to his chest. He felt good, and she let herself relax against him as he walked back toward the house.

“Why won’t you let me see my sister? Why are you keeping me prisoner here? Nathan?” She looked deep in his eyes, trying to plead with him without using words.

“You aren’t a prisoner. You’re our guest. We aren’t keeping you from your sister. We’ll take you to her soon. Right now, she’s bonding with her new men, Adam and Brandon.” His voice was smooth, and she realized that she really wanted him to talk more. His voice did something to her.

“Why do you keep saying ‘we’? Just for clarification, locking someone in a room is making them a prisoner, not a guest. You’re keeping me here, so that your cousins Adam and Brandon can ‘bond.’ I’m thinking that means fuck my sister.” She knew she sounded a little harsh. If her sister needed a little privacy, then fine, but they could’ve explained that earlier.

“Uh-oh, I hate to point this out, Nathan, but Katie just said a very naughty word.” Katie turned her head to look at a smirking Lucas. It seemed like he went out of his way to tattle or just to point things out, and it was really starting to irritate her.

“Seriously? What, are we in elementary school?” She shook her head and focused on Nathan, completely ignoring Lucas when he tried to get her attention. Both of the men stopped walking, and she knew then that what she did was wrong. She had dismissed him. Nathan kissed her forehead and handed her off to Lucas. It looked like they were a team after all. That answered her “we” question. He never spoke for himself, and she realized that he never would.

“Be careful with her. I need to check her foot. Take her to her room.” Nathan walked ahead, leaving her with Lucas. She crossed her arms firmly across her chest, unwilling to touch him. She refused to look at him. She didn’t want to see the smug grin he always seemed to be wearing.

“It’s just you and me now, princess. You should know from the beginning that we, the four of us, work together all the time. With you, there won’t be an exception. It’s all or nothing, sweetheart. I’m sure you know what I mean, but just in case you want to play innocent, I’m talking about the four of us taking this hot little body. It won’t just be Nathan. You will belong to all of us.” He took slow, steady steps, holding her close, even though she tried to put distance between them. She let his words sink in, digesting them, not willing to speak. She did want Nathan. There was something about him that pulled at her. When he was around, listening to his voice was enough to arouse her.

The idea of having one man was nerve racking enough. The thought of four was too much. She now realized that they thought they were giving their friends alone time with Chloe, but it didn’t change the fact that she didn’t want to be here, stuck with them, in their home. She needed to talk to all four of them and explain a few things.

“You should know that we have amazing senses. We can smell different emotions, especially when you’re aroused. It’s the sweetest smell, and you can’t hide it, so don’t deny it. You wanted Nathan to touch your pussy. You should’ve asked him. He would’ve pleasured you.” Katie looked at Lucas, and he gave her an evil grin, lifting his brow, wanting a response from her.

“You’re right. I did want Nathan until you came over and ruined it. Did you notice the smell change when you arrived?” She smirked back, hoping that he realized she wasn’t really that interested in hearing his smart-ass comments. He was great-looking. They all were, dark, gorgeous, blue eyes that had a way of looking through her. It was his attitude. He acted as if he owned her, as if she should be grateful to have him. It was irritating.

His eyes narrowed on her, and she turned her head, watching as his long legs ate up the distance to the cabin. It was dark out, almost completely black, and she was grateful not to be trekking through the forest trying to find where her sister was. Lucas climbed the steps and Ryan was there, opening the door and holding it for them to enter. The warm air from inside consumed her and warmed her almost instantly. She felt herself shaking again, her body finally able to defrost from the bitter cold outside. She was glad that at least she’d been smart enough to wear layers. Otherwise, she would have probably frozen to death.

Lucas didn’t waste any time. He took her back to the room they had locked her in. There was a fire lit, and the orange glow made the room feel welcoming now. She hadn’t noticed that before. Ryan walked out of the bathroom just as Lucas put her in the chair by the fire. She didn’t speak, just stared at the dancing flames, enjoying the heat as it soaked in through her jacket. It felt amazing. Nathan walked in carrying a large black bag and kneeled next to her.

“We need to get these clothes off. They’re damp, and I don’t want you getting sick. Then I’m going to look at your foot. I want to make sure you didn’t break anything. I’m also going to check the rest of you to make sure you aren’t injured anywhere else. I want to check your fingers and toes. What the hell were you thinking? Did you really think we were going to hurt you?” He started undoing her boots first, removing them and her socks.

He didn’t waste any time unbuttoning her jacket and pants either. She let him, too stunned to stop him. He looked like a fallen god kneeling next to her, taking care of her, and the girl in her found it charming and romantic. The woman was spitting mad, though. She didn’t want to be taken care of. She sat in the chair unmoving, almost limp, while he quickly stripped her down. He handed her clothes off to one of the other men. She didn’t turn her head to look, though, too focused on Nathan and what he was doing to her body.

“I asked you a question, little girl, and I want an answer.” When she was wearing only her yoga pants and long-sleeve T-shirt, he stopped and looked at her expectantly.

“I told you that I wanted to see my sister. You locked me in here. I don’t like feeling helpless.” She whispered the last word, not wanting anyone else to hear what she had to say. If their sense of smell was good, maybe their hearing was as well. She felt fragile and petite with Nathan in front of her. He was wearing a T-shirt and jeans now, the jeans sitting low on his hips. She could make out every line and muscle on his chest, and she found herself reaching out, wanting to touch him.

When her hand made contact, she felt his muscles ripple, and he groaned, coaxing her to touch more of him. “Your little hands feel so good on me, baby.” She couldn’t help but smile at his words.

* * * *

Nathan was losing his mind, and it was all her fault. Ever since she first walked into their house, she had consumed his thoughts. Seeing her jump out the window, his life flashed before his eyes. The sheer panic he felt was so overwhelming he nearly choked. He pushed himself to look out the window, hoping he wasn’t going to see her broken body lying on the ground. She was their mate, and she nearly killed herself to get away from them. That sense of rejection had him running down the stairs and out the door after her.

He had known his brothers would follow. They had been waiting a long time for her as well. Ryan had taken the rejection the worst, his animal jumping to the forefront, needing its mate. When he turned and stalked her, Nathan knew he wouldn’t hurt her, but he had scared her into submission. How long would they have to play this game, how long would she run from them? He knew she’d only been in their house a matter of hours, but didn’t she feel anything at all? The pull Chloe felt had been almost instantaneous, but maybe that’s because she had bonded with the youngest brother Conner first, so the transition was easier for her.

Having her hand on him now, he was able to calm down. It was almost as if she knew exactly what to do. He let her explore him as he moved his hands up and down her body, searching for any broken bones. He leaned back, needing to check her feet, and her hand fell away. She couldn’t reach. He looked up and caught the little pout on her face, her lower lip sticking out. It reminded him how young their mate was. She would need to be treated gently, he realized. He pulled her feet into his hands and applied some pressure, wanting to warm them. He looked for any signs of discoloration, hoping they wouldn’t have to deal with any serious weather issues.

“Ryan ran you a bath. The warm water should help you lose the chill. He also brought you a pair of sweats and a clean, long-sleeve T-shirt. When you’re done, get dressed and come sit by the fire. I’ll bring you some soup.” He pulled on her feet to get her attention. “Katie, did you hear me?” He kept his voice quiet, trying to keep the commanding tone at bay.

“Yeah, okay. Thanks.” He helped her to stand and watched as she walked into the bathroom and closed the door. He heard the click of the lock and smiled. That wouldn’t keep him out if he wanted to get in, but he knew it made her feel better.

“I’m going to the kitchen to heat up some soup for Katie. Ryan, why don’t you stay in here, just in case she needs anything. Lucas and Ethan can help me.” He walked out of the room, trying to figure out what their next step should be. He didn’t want to come on too strong. He wasn’t sure if Katie could really deal with four men. She was such a small thing, and she looked so fragile. How was this going to work? He felt confused. How could she be a mate to them all, and could she even handle them? He’d been waiting so long, and now she was here. They needed a plan, a real plan.

Chapter 3

Katie stepped into the tub, and the warmth shot through her body instantly. She moaned loudly as she moved to sink herself deep into the water. She leaned her head back against a towel that was lying on the edge of the tub and closed her eyes. She floated in the water, thinking about Nathan, Ryan, Lucas, and Ethan. She tried to think of other things, anything but them, but her mind kept returning to the same picture. She kept replaying the same images in her head.

She stood in front of four perfectly dressed, hugely muscled, and extremely gorgeous men. They all stared at her, eyeing her, judging her, and she couldn’t stop shaking. Her throat was dry, and she tried swallowing the lump that made it hard to breathe. She was shaking uncontrollably, and she felt scared but also excited. Her heart beat rapidly in her chest, and she looked down, realizing she was naked.

They weren’t talking, and that’s what scared her the most. Nathan sat on the far left of her. He was the biggest, and he was the leader of this group. The brothers all looked very similar with deep blue eyes and large, broad shoulders. They stared at her, moving their eyes up and down her body, but none of them said anything. She wanted to speak, but something prevented her from doing so. Maybe it was their eyes, smoldering, growing deeper, and the pupils expanding.

She felt like their prey, as if they were assessing her to see if she was good enough for them. Did she even want to be with them? It was all of them or none of them, but the choice didn’t really seem to belong to her. They were in charge. They would decide what to do with her. She felt sexy. In a weird way, she knew they wanted her, craved her, would do anything to possess her.

She stood up straighter, fixing her posture. She would show them just how sexy she could be. She wanted them to remove their suits, to touch her, to lay her naked body out on the table and pleasure her. Katie moved then. She walked toward the table that stood in her way, blocking her path. She climbed onto the table and crawled toward them. Their eyes never left her, not once, and she started feeling powerful, a hidden vixen rising to the surface. She moved until she was within reaching distance and lay down on her back, opening her legs, exposing her sex to the four of them.

They didn’t move, like she hoped. They didn’t automatically reach for her. They sat, staring, licking their lips. She was wet and achy, needing to be filled, needing the release that was boiling so close to the surface. She moved her hands down her body, stopping to pinch and tweak her nipples. She moaned and shifted, moving her hips in invitation, wanting one of them to do something, to at least touch her, but again they didn’t move, just shifted in their seats. She pushed her hand down until her fingers reached her pussy. If they weren’t going to do anything, then she would. Using her left hand, she spread her nether lips apart, giving them a perfect view of her wet pussy. With her right hand, she moved her fingers, touching her clit first, rubbing in slow circles.

Finally, she got what she wanted, male groans and growls. They were affected. The sounds they made pushed her on, made her want to come, made her want to really give them a show. She pushed two fingers into her pussy, but it wasn’t enough. She needed more, she needed one of her men to do something. She focused on them, on their faces, as she pumped her fingers. She pictured them taking her together, pictured Nathan fucking her pussy, Ryan pushing into her ass, sucking on Ethan’s cock, and using her hands to pleasure Lucas. It made her hot, and her juices leaked out, soaking her hand.

Katie moved her left hand to her clit. She was getting close. She moved her hips, fucking her hand as she played with her clit, flashes of the different men popping in her mind, thinking of all the ways she could give and receive pleasure. She threw her hand back and screamed as she came, yelling their names and begging for more.

The bathroom door flew open, slamming into the wall, jolting Katie. She screeched, threw her eyes open, and stared at Ryan. Her heart was hammering in her chest, and she looked around, wondering what had made him run into the bathroom the way he did.

He took a deep breath and shook his head. “I’m sorry. I heard you yell my name.” He cocked his head to the side. “Did you masturbate?” She looked down and realized that she had, and she actually came. Holy cow, that had never happened before. “I don’t mean to embarrass you. Shit, I’m sorry, Katie.” Ryan backed out of the bathroom and closed the door behind him.

Katie got her breathing under control before grabbing the towel and standing up. Her legs felt a little shaky as she dried herself off. She wrapped the towel around her body and stepped out of the tub. She looked at herself in the mirror as she got dressed in the clothes Ryan had put there for her. The sweats and shirt were huge and hung loosely on her body. She rolled the pants a few times so they didn’t fall off her waist.

When she walked out of the bathroom, all four of the men were in the room waiting for her.

“Did you masturbate in there?” Lucas asked, throwing her a sideways grin. She looked around at the other men in the room, all of them with matching curious looks. It had only been a dream after the long day she had. She was tired. It wasn’t that big of a deal.

“Shut up.” She whispered the words fiercely as she walked past him toward the chairs by the fire. Nathan was waiting for her, holding a tray of food. Her stomach growled loudly, reminding her she hadn’t eaten most of the day.

“Baby, if you need some cock, just ask.” His words stopped her, and she closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and plastered a fake smile on her face. His words went through her mind again, all or nothing.

“Nathan, Lucas said something earlier, and I just wanted to clarify. I want to make sure I understand.”

“I’d be happy to answer any questions you have, baby.” Nathan sent a look to Lucas, and she knew it was to shut him up. He helped her into the chair and put the tray on her lap. The tomato soup looked heavenly, and her mouth watered.

“Yum, this looks fantastic. Thank you.” She leaned toward him and brushed her lips against his cheek. She really did like him. He was turning out to be such a sweet man.

“You’re welcome.” He smiled back at her and moved back to the seat across from her.

“Lucas told me that the four of you work together, and that if I wanted to move forward with you, Ryan, or Ethan”—she turned and made a face at Lucas, excluding him on purpose—“I’d also be stuck with him. Is that true? Is it really all or nothing?” She made her best sad face at him, hoping that she could get Nathan. Her body was on fire.

“Oh, Jesus, cut that boo-face crap. You aren’t fooling anyone, princess.” Lucas moved to the sitting area by the fire and sat down on the couch. He looked annoyed, as if he had any right to.

“Why are you so upset with me? Nobody said you had to sit here. Why don’t you go play with your little friend from earlier and leave me alone?”

“You think I want to be here? Do you think I want you for a mate? I’m stuck.” His words were harsh, and they affected her more than she wanted them to. They sliced her heart open, and she had a hard time breathing. “Oh, shit, I’m sorry, Katie. I didn’t mean that.” He watched her closely, pain evident on his face. She couldn’t understand why she was so affected by him, and she needed some space and time alone.

“I want you to leave. All of you, please. I want to be alone.” She stared at the fire. She could hear them talking to her, but she seemed to zone out, lost in thought. Her emotions were a huge, confusing mess, and she couldn’t seem to follow her body’s response either. She felt broken. Nothing connected. Her body, mind, and heart were all pulling her in different directions, and she couldn’t understand it.

She hadn’t been at their house a whole day yet, and she felt them. It was weird. She took a few more bites of her soup and laid the tray on the ground. She walked in a daze to the bedroom door and moved the lock into place, blocking them from entering. The bed looked inviting, and she moved to climb in, covering herself completely, closing her eyes. She just needed some sleep. Tomorrow everything would be clearer.

* * * *

Things had gone from bad to worse in such a short amount of time. Ryan filed out of Katie’s room and headed toward the living room. It seemed that Nathan, Ethan, and Lucas’s little trip to the kitchen earlier hadn’t been very productive. They were supposed to be on the same page. They were supposed to be trying to make Katie feel comfortable. She was in a new place, surrounded by four men. Any woman would feel wary, but she belonged to them. The only woman in the world who mattered, and they were all messing things up. He should’ve taken her to Adam and Brandon, and then he could’ve gone on a few dates, taken things slow before introducing her to his idiot brothers.

He was pacing, fists clenched, angry with himself and at Lucas for not being able to keep his big mouth closed. Nathan took on the role right away, gaining her trust and becoming her favorite quickly. Ethan kept his mouth shut, unsure of what to say, nervous energy surrounded him, but Lucas was another story. He was angry, and it made no sense.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” He moved quickly when Lucas walked into the living room, grabbing and pushing him against the wall. He kept his voice low, not wanting to upset Katie more than she already was, not wanting her to hear what Lucas had to say. The pain she felt only a few minutes ago had his stomach in tight knots. “Is she your mate? Do you feel the pull? Is it just me and Nathan?” He needed answers. If she wasn’t a mate to Lucas and Ethan, then they could move out and he could move forward with Nathan.

“I don’t want a mate,” Lucas said behind clenched teeth. His answer seemed to surprise everyone. They had been looking and waiting for a mate for longer than he could remember. She was the one person who could hold their hearts, who could have their children and complete the bond. Most brothers mated with the same woman, but every once in a while, it didn’t work that way. That was the case with his uncles and fathers. He stepped back, realizing that maybe that was the case with Lucas and Ethan. They were twins. Maybe they were meant for another woman.

“That didn’t answer my question. Is she your mate or not?” He looked over at Nathan, wondering if he was thinking the same thing. Did Katie only belong to the two of them? Lucas stayed quiet, so he turned to Ethan. “Well?”

“Yeah, she is.” Ethan’s voice was quiet, as if he wasn’t sure he wanted to claim her or not.

“Okay, Lucas? I’m going to assume she’s your mate as well and that you’re an ass. You’re treating her horribly. If you don’t want Katie to be your mate, then you need to leave. Every time we make a little progress, you ruin it by opening your mouth. Do you want her or not? Make a decision and follow through. I’m finished with this shit.” Ryan stalked out of the living room and headed toward his bedroom. His room was to the left of Katie’s.

He changed his clothes quickly, pulling on a pair of sweats before getting in bed. He sent a silent little prayer that tomorrow would go easier and that Katie would let them have a fresh start. He closed his eyes, thinking about her beautiful little pixy face and her expressive eyes. She was everything he had wished for, and he wanted her to choose to stay with them.

Ryan could hear doors farther down the hall closing and knew that everyone was going to bed. He hoped Nathan told them off, hoped that maybe Lucas and Ethan would make the decision to either stay or leave without hurting Katie any longer. His bedroom door opened, and he turned over, ready to face his brothers.

He sat up when he realized that it was Katie. Her scent hit him before his eyes adjusted. There were subtle hints of pain that still lingered with an underlying scent of arousal. He stopped himself before he groaned, not wanting to scare her off.

“Hey, baby. Are you okay? Is there anything I can get you?” He gave her a reassuring smile.

“Umm, I’m a little cold. I was hoping that maybe you’d consider holding me for a little bit.”

“Did you know this was my room? Or were you expecting someone else?” He tried to keep the hurt out of his tone. However, he knew she couldn’t have known which room was his.

“I heard you talking to yourself when you came upstairs. My bed is on the other side of the wall. I knew I was coming to see you.” His heart swelled at her words. He felt an unbelievable tenderness he had never known. He knew then that she had the ability to break his heart, to break him.

“Climb on in. I’d love to warm you up.” He scooted his body back, giving her room to climb into his bed. He pulled the covers over them both and opened his arms, letting her move, letting her get closer if she wanted to. She didn’t stop moving until they were chest to chest. He could feel her nipples pebble against his chest. She fit perfectly in his arms, her head under his chin. She shivered a little, and he lifted his left leg over hers, trying to let his body heat sink into her.