Sugar Creek 1: Tessa's Chosen (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 2

  “Uh, no one hurt me. I had an accident.” Her body was taut, as if waiting for him or his brothers to call her on her lie. But none of them were about to do that and send her running from them. Hopefully by the end of the night she would trust them and come clean. When Tessa didn’t think any of them were watching her she studied them intently but if Rafe or his brothers tried to meet her gaze again, she looked away quickly. From the heat he had seen in her eyes she liked what she saw. Rafe wasn’t conceited but he knew he and his brothers were good looking. There always seemed to be a bevy of women out for their attention when they were in town. Occasionally he and his siblings had taken those women up on what they offered, but Rafe, Lucien and Gabe always made sure the woman or women they were with knew that what they wanted was purely sex.

  Lucien was the biggest of them all at six foot five and the ladies seemed to love the combination of his black hair and green eyes. His older brother was also the most muscular of the three and women seemed to nearly swoon every time they watched him walk on by. Rafe was the second eldest and he was only an inch shorter than Luc and his eyes were a blue-green color, and his hair was dark brown. Gabe was the most playful of the three of them and also the shortest at six two and, even though Luc was more muscular than them, he and Gabe weren’t much leaner. Gabe’s hair was lighter brown than Rafe’s and he had hazel-colored eyes.

  They had been waiting for their mate for a long time and had nearly given up hope of ever meeting her. Now that she was here, sitting right beside him, he had no intention of letting her get away. Rafe could see that the pheromones their wolves were giving off were affecting their mate. Her pupils were dilated, her cheeks were flushed, and she inhaled deeply through her nose, often.

  He and his brothers had been told of this wolf aphrodisiac but had never experienced or seen it before. Now that their wolves were emitting the musk he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that Tessa was their mate. Now all they had to do was convince her of that.

  That was another thing. How the hell were they going to do that when she probably had no idea that werewolves even existed?

  Rafe was brought back from his introspection when Tessa answered Gabe’s question.

  “Do you want another cup of coffee, honey?”

  “No thanks, I haven’t finished this one yet,” Tessa said as she slid off her stool.

  Luc didn’t move back like he expected. Instead his brother crossed his arms over his massive chest and stared at Tessa.

  “Where are you going?”

  “To the bathroom. Not that I need to tell you what I’m doing.” Tessa looked up at Luc and even though she had pushed her nose into the air and was trying to stare Luc down, she didn’t stand a chance. Luc was an Alpha and had perfected that “You’ll do as I tell you” stare years ago. And he was right. Tessa looked away before ten seconds had passed.

  Luc finally moved aside, pulling the stool with him to give Tessa room to move. She hurried away down the hall to the bathroom without once looking back.

  Gabe voiced the question they were all no doubt thinking. “What the hell are we going to do? We need her to come home with us so we can get to know our mate.”

  “I don’t know.” Rafe sighed and threaded his fingers through his hair. “I’ve been trying to come up with something but so far, nothing comes to mind.”

  “Did you two believe that bullshit about an accident?” Luc asked.

  “No.” Rafe and Gabe answered simultaneously.

  “She’s running scared and I’d like to know who from.”

  “We all would, Luc, but you need to give her time. We have to earn her trust. You can’t just command and make it so.”

  “You think I don’t know that?” Luc snarled. “Fuck!”

  “I suggest we try and get her to sit down with us and talk to us. Hopefully by the end of the night she’ll be willing to tell us what she’s so scared of.” Gabe glanced down toward the restrooms.

  “Gabe’s right, Luc. She needs to get used to being near us before we start asking her questions.”

  Luc nodded at Rafe but Rafe could tell it was going to be hard for his Alpha brother to keep things on the low down. He was so used to running roughshod over everyone and getting what he wanted. Not that Luc was a bad Alpha, because he wasn’t. His older brother always put the pack before himself and listened to advice often, but when Luc made up his mind about something there was usually no way to sway him.

  Tessa came out of the bathroom and hesitated in the hallway when she saw Rafe, Gabe, and Luc watching for her, and even though she was still nervous around them their mate had gumption. She pushed her shoulders back, stuck her little chin in the air and continued on toward them. Rafe expected her to keep her distance but she surprised him when she came back to the same spot at the bar she was sitting at before. She picked up her coffee and drained the cup.

  “Why don’t we sit somewhere more comfortable?” Luc suggested, and pointed toward the closest booth.

  Tessa nodded and then headed over.

  “Would you like something else to drink or eat, Tessa?” Rafe asked and knew Gabe was beating himself up for his lack of manners from the contrite look on his face. But then Gabe smiled at him as he sat on the curved bench seat and slid over close to Tessa. Luc slid in on her other side.

  “Another coffee would be good, thanks.”

  Rafe ordered Tessa’s coffee and a round of beers for them and brought them over to the table.

  * * * *

  Tessa shuddered and tried not to inhale any more of their delectable scent. Each time she breathed in through her nose she was assailed by the wonderful manly, musky aroma, and her body was reacting to the presence of the three handsome, sexy men.

  What the hell is going on? Am I stepping out of the frying pan into the fire?

  Tessa sighed again. The day had just turned a little more bizarre, but then she decided it couldn’t hurt to be surrounded by three big, handsome, muscular men. If he found her at least she would have a little protection. For some reason she felt really drawn to these three men and her instincts were telling her they wouldn’t hurt her. How she came to that conclusion she had no idea, and even though she had every reason to be wary of men right now, them being so close to her just felt…right. At least she was in a public place and if her instincts were off she could call out for help from the other men she could see sitting around the tables in the inn. She’d seen the anger in their eyes when they’d looked at her bruised swollen face and ripped shirt. That had to mean they didn’t hurt women, didn’t it?

  God, girl, could this day get anymore fucked up?

  “Thanks, Rafe.” She sighed and reached for the fresh mug of hot coffee. Tessa was so damn sore and tired, all she wanted to do was find a bed, curl up in it and sleep for a month. But for some reason she couldn’t fathom she wanted to be with these three men. Every time she talked to herself to get up and leave she found herself arguing and finding reasons to stay.

  Shivers of awareness rolled up her spine and she tried to contain the shudder so it wouldn’t be noticeable. She couldn’t help but look at Rafe’s long thick fingers and large hands as he passed each of his brothers a bottle of beer. Her breasts felt swollen and heavy and her nipples had been hard the moment those men had come near her. Her pussy kept clenching and dripping cream onto her panties and her clit was throbbing.

  You are a glutton for punishment, Tessa. What the hell are you doing lusting after three strangers? Why am I so drawn to them?

  Lucien leaned in close to Tessa, sliding a finger up and down her forearm, causing goose bumps to erupt all over her skin. She couldn’t believe the way she was reacting to the three men. She inhaled deeply and as she drew their scent into her nose she began to feel like she was a little punch drunk.

  Tessa had never experienced anything like this in her whole life and wondered why of all times and places that she had to be attracted to them, especially after the horrifying day she’d had.

  “Where are yo
u headed, Tessa, and where do you live?” Lucien kept stroking her arm but when he asked his question he pinned her with his gaze. All his attention was on her and it made her feel warm inside. What the hell?

  “Um…well, I’m headed out on an extended vacation at the moment and I’ve just recently sold my house in Cleveland. I decided I would travel for a while. I have no current permanent address.”

  Oh God, Tessa, you shouldn’t have told these three men that. They could do anything and no one would ever know.

  She frowned at how safe she felt with them close to her and wondered if the knock to her head had damaged her brain. She nearly smiled over that thought, so she picked up her coffee and took a sip, hoping they didn’t see the amusement in her eyes and think she was a Loony Tune.

  Goodness knew what they wanted with her and what they would do. No one knew where she was or that she had even left. For all she knew these three men could be worse than the one she’d left back home, but that didn’t sit right with her. They sort of seemed like they were eager to get to know her and were a little possessive. Normally that would have had her on alert but not with these three men. She felt anxious to be closer to them and boy was her body feeling needy. She’d never felt like that before, not even with her ex. She began to wonder why three strange, handsome men wanted anything to do with her and especially with the way she currently looked.

  The way Lucien was touching her made her feel special and almost cherished but she had no idea why.

  Maybe I am going nuts after all.

  * * * *

  Lucien could smell the anxiety emanating from Tessa in waves and it showed by the way she was fidgeting. He inhaled again and sighed with relief when he didn’t smell fear. Was she anxious because she desired them or because she was in trouble? He knew it wasn’t because he and his brothers were so close to her. He didn’t think she realized what she was doing, but she was angling in closer to him and his brother whenever they started talking, as if she couldn’t get close enough. Luc and Gabe exchanged glances and they both immediately started stroking her forearms in a soothing manner and he was pleased when the scent of her anxiety began to dissipate as he and Gabe touched her. She sighed as if with contentment and relaxed back into her seat. Tessa even shifted on the seat until her thigh was touching his and when he looked down he noted that her other leg was touching Gabe’s.

  Yes! You feel it, too, don’t you baby?

  “You have nothing to fear from us, pajarito. We will never harm you. I want you to tell me who hurt you. Who would do such a thing to such a beautiful woman?” Lucien asked, his voice more husky than usual as he tried to keep the rage he felt at the fact that his mate was hurt from his tone.

  Tessa stiffened once again and Luc wanted to find the fucker who had hurt her and rip his throat out.

  “Umm, no one hurt me. I fell over while I was packing my car this morning and hit my face on the trunk. My sleeve got caught on the catch and ripped as I picked myself up again.” Tessa looked down at the table while she answered him.

  “Give her more time to trust us, Luc. Stop trying to make her tell you what’s going on,” Rafe said through their link. “If you keep pushing her she is going to run.”

  When Lucien didn’t say anything to her lie Tessa let out a sigh of relief and she relaxed a little more into her seat. Taking a sip of her coffee, she glanced at all three of them and then looked away nervously. She shifted in her seat and wrapped both hands around her coffee mug as if trying to warm her cold hands.

  Lucien inhaled the sweet essence of Tessa’s desire and his cock hardened even more. It was hell sitting down with such a prominent boner but he wasn’t about to stand up, because if Tessa saw the way she affected him she would likely hightail it of there as if the hounds of hell were after her. He looked over to Gabe and Rafe and saw they too could smell her need. Lucien spoke to his brothers mentally. “We cannot let her go! We have to keep her with us. She is our mate and she must stay with us even if we have to make her. We need to protect her from whoever has harmed her.”

  Rafe replied, “Fuck, Luc, we can’t do that. If you take her against her will we’ll never have a chance with her. Stop thinking with your dick and start using your head. Since Gabe is the most diplomatic and patient one of us, why don’t we see if he can get her to stay with us?”

  “Okay,” Gabe replied, “but what do we do if she won’t leave with us? She seems very frightened already and it’s no wonder with the bruise marring her sweet face.”

  Lucien was about to reply to Gabe when they were distracted by their mate’s gasp. The scent of her distress increased. He looked down at her and saw the way she grabbed the edge of the table so hard her knuckles turned white.

  Chapter Two

  Darren Smythe, her ex-fiancé, had just walked through the door of the inn. He stood in the entry way scanning the faces in the room until his gaze landed on her. She gasped in horror as her gaze connected with his. She started hyperventilating as this morning’s events started to flash through her mind. Tess whimpered as she recalled Darren standing over her with his fist raised and recoiled as she felt his fist connect with her jaw. Yelling at her that she would be his fiancée whether she wanted to be or not. Telling her that she would not escape him no matter where she moved to.

  Luckily she had everything packed into her car already. She kicked him in the gonads and as he’d writhed on the floor in pain she had scrambled to her feet and been out the door slamming it locked behind her before Darren could come after her. She’d jumped into her car and sped off, keeping her eyes on her mirror, hoping he wouldn’t follow.

  Tess didn’t even realize she’d moved closer to Lucien until her thigh pressed against his, but she continued to stare at Darren and gasp for breath. Lucien wrapped his arm around her shoulders protectively and Gabe suddenly leaned forward and to his left trying to block her view of the bastard across the room. The three men close to Tessa glared threateningly at Darren while she sat trembling with fear. She felt much safer with them close to her and didn’t want to leave their company. Maybe arriving here was meant to be.

  Yeah, right. If you believe that then you are definitely heading toward a padded room.

  Lucien stroked her upper arm comfortingly, but she was still frozen with fear and couldn’t move. She thought she heard a low growl come from the direction of Rafe but then shook her head at her imagination. Maybe she was hallucinating all of it. Maybe she had made up the three Woolf brothers because she was so frightened. Maybe that smack in the face had knocked her senseless after all.

  * * * *

  “Let the man come to Tessa. Maybe we can find out why she is so frightened of him and use that to our advantage! Gabe, back off and let him see our little mate. Nothing will happen to her whilst we are here.”

  Gabe leaned back in the seat and placed his left arm below Lucien’s, tucking it around Tessa’s waist and watched as the stranger approached. Tessa emitted another whimper as the man came closer.

  Lucien leaned down and whispered in her ear, “Do not fear pajarito, he cannot and will not harm you while we are here to protect you.” Lucien kissed her temple just as the man came to a stop at their table. Taking his time, Lucien nuzzled his nose to the side of Tessa’s head and smiled when he felt her shiver of desire. He slowly lifted his head and let the man see all his anger, but the asshole wouldn’t meet his eyes. He stood with his leering gaze on his mate and Lucien’s anger grew until his muscles were taut with tension.

  * * * *

  Darren stood staring at his fiancé, Tessa Michaels. He could not believe she had the audacity to be sitting in front of him sandwiched between two men. Darren saw the men glaring at him in his peripheral vision as he scowled at Tessa. Pasting a smile on his face, he addressed Tessa.

  “Tessa, honey, what are you doing here? Why did you run over a silly argument, darling? You should have stayed and talked to me. We would have been able to work things out. Come over to a private table with me and we’ll d
iscuss things,” he demanded, and reached a hand out toward Tessa.

  Tessa cringed back as he reached for her and it took all Darren had to conceal the smirk wanting to form on his mouth. He wanted to laugh with glee. She was scared of him and he loved it when she cringed away. The more she flinched and baulked the hornier he got. That was until he felt heated breath against the back of his neck and a low grumbling growl reverberated behind him. Darren slowly lowered his arm and stood staring at the men in front of him, not daring to turn his back on the two men but fearing the man so close behind.

  The man who had his arm wrapped around Tessa’s shoulders gently grasped her chin between his thumb and forefinger. “Do you know this man, little bird?”

  Anger consumed Darren at the intimate way the fucker touched his woman. If it wasn’t for the fact that these three men seemed to be hell bent on protecting her he would have grabbed hold of Tessa’s wrist and hauled her out of the booth.

  * * * *

  “Yes.”

  “Do you want to talk to this man or have him in your presence?” Lucien asked gently.

  “No.” Tessa almost whimpered the answer and felt tears sheen her eyes. Her whole body was shaking uncontrollably. Blinking rapidly, she tried to free herself from Lucien’s grasp.

  “You will never escape me, my little mate, and nobody will hurt you as long as you have your mates around to protect you.” Lucien knew she hadn’t understood a word he’d just said since he said it in Spanish.

  He and his brothers had learned the language as children when a visiting Spanish were had spent time in their pack. Luc had picked up the language quickly but it had taken his brothers longer to learn, but he loved being able to say things he didn’t really want anyone but his brothers to understand. Of course he could just use their mind link but he had warped sense of humor sometimes.

  Without warning, Lucien settled his lips over hers, gently sipping at hers until the tension invading her rigid muscles dissipated and she leaned into his body.