Saving Scarlett Page 6

  She met his gaze. “I dreamed about this so much. Seeing you again. Having you be mine. I feel like I’m dreaming still.”

  “It’s not a dream, love,” Wes said, then slipped onto the bed behind her and pulled her gently backward until he was leaning against the headboard and she was tucked between his bent knees. Ray climbed onto the bed and gently pushed her legs further apart. Her core glistened with the evidence of her arousal. He settled between her thighs and she rubbed her foot against his ribs. Placing his hands on her warm thighs, he pushed them even further apart, baring her sweet center to his gaze. She smelled so sweet and intoxicating. His cat wanted to just linger here between her thighs forever and taste her again and again.

  Her body was bare, and he kissed the top of her mound. He licked the length of her pussy, his tongue barely touching her silky skin. She made a soft sound, like a breathy sigh of pleasure, and he couldn’t help but smile. He slipped his hands under her legs and cupped her ass, lifting her slightly from the bed. He pressed his lips to her pussy and, tilting his head, he slipped his tongue into her core. She groaned and her pussy clenched his tongue. He kissed her body like it was her mouth, licking and stroking inside her, feasting on her sweet cream. He sucked at her lips, letting his teeth graze the soft flesh, and she canted her hips, her fingers grasping at his hair.

  He flicked her clit with his tongue, lowering her body to the mattress. Her nails scraped his scalp and he pressed the flat of his tongue to her clit, dragging it slowly across the firm bud. He glanced up the length of her body as one of her hands let go of his hair. Wes held both her breasts, his hands cupping them, his thumbs rubbing her nipples. She now held each of her mates by one hand in their hair, and Ray grinned as she lifted her hips again, searching for his mouth.

  Her eyes were closed and her mouth had fallen open as she panted, her stomach fluttering as he ran his tongue around her clit. The bud hardened further as he wiggled it back and forth, and he knew she’d been waiting long enough for pleasure since they’d been apart all those weeks. He didn’t want her to wait anymore. Wrapping his lips around the bud, he sucked it into his mouth and growled. He figured she’d feel the vibrations from his growl, and knew he was right when her hand twisted hard in his hair.

  He growled again, his tongue flicking the tip of her clit, curling his hands around her thighs to hold her body open for him. She tried to move against his mouth, but he held her still, sucking and licking her until she cried out and arched against him. He released his grip on her clit and licked the bud lightly, gentling her down from the heavens.

  Wes slipped out from behind her and settled off to the side, giving Ray the first time with her. He glanced at his brother, but then Scarlett reached for him, and he forgot about everything but his mate as she held her hands out to him. He kissed up her stomach as she stretched out on the bed, her legs curling around his body and her hands gripping his shoulders. He kissed her throat and slid his arms around her back, cupping her shoulders as his cock pressed inside her. She raised her hips, meeting him as he pushed in, until their bodies were tightly wed and he felt like he’d black out from the sheer pleasure. Nipping at her throat, he purred softly and rose over her, sliding his hips away from her until his cock was barely touching her hot wetness, before pressing in again, faster. Her eyes met his and her nails dug into his back as their hips met, moving faster with each forward press. Her pussy clutched him as he drove into her, and the sweet passion that bloomed in her eyes made him want to howl in happiness.

  He kissed her, stroking his tongue to hers with the same fervor that he stroked into her body. She moaned and gasped into his mouth, and he ate the sounds. He’d never felt so connected to a person before. He’d believed himself half in love with her already, pining for her since the morning they woke up without her. Now he had her in his arms, and the sweet heat surrounding his cock was something he never wanted to go without again.

  He sucked her bottom lip and increased the pace, his climax tingling at the base of his spine. He slid one hand down to the small of her back and lifted her slightly. He sank just a little deeper into her and her legs fell open as she moaned. He swiveled his hips as he pressed into her again and again, and when he felt her body begin to tighten rhythmically and her panting breaths filled his ears, he knew he’d found her sweet spot. She lifted her leg slightly, her knee sliding up his side, and her hands gripped him as she tossed her head back and screamed. Her pussy clenched him like a fist and he fell off the edge into white hot pleasure. He came hard, his vision winking out as he hugged her close and buried his face in her neck.

  She wrapped her arms and legs around him. “Ray,” she whispered, her voice raw.

  He kissed her throat and lifted his head, meeting her bright gaze. His heart swelled, the connection between them tangible. “I love you.”

  Her brows rose for a moment and then she smiled, a dimple appearing in her cheek. “I love you, too. I feel like we’ve known each other forever even though we’ve hardly been together. My heart is yours. Both of yours.”

  Ray lifted from her slowly, hating the feeling of his body slipping from hers, and rolled to the side. Wes wasted no time taking his place, and their soft murmurs of affection made Ray smile. Scarlett loved them. He felt like he’d been able to feel her emotions in some way. Maybe their mating connection was strong because she was a supernatural creature herself. Not a wolf, but a special sort of mate. No matter what she was, though, she was theirs and that was all that really mattered.

  * * * * *

  Wes woke up when Scarlett scrambled over him in the morning. Her feet hit the carpet and she raced to the bathroom. He sat up abruptly when he heard her getting sick. He and Ray both rushed to the bathroom and found her bent over the white porcelain, sobbing.

  He wet a washcloth and handed it to Ray, who knelt next to her and lifted her hair from her neck and pressed the cloth to her skin. She hissed, her head dropping onto her upturned palm. Wes put his hand on her shoulder.

  “Sweetheart?” he asked.

  “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I’m fine when I first wake up but within a minute or two my stomach is rolling.”

  She made a gagging sound and threw up a little bit more and then reached for the lever, flushing the toilet. Ray gave her the cloth and she wiped her mouth, sitting back on her heels and grimacing.

  “Did you feel bad at all yesterday?” Ray asked.

  She shook her head. “Just that one time.” She raised her hand to Wes and he helped her stand. She brushed her teeth and splashed cold water on her face. They walked with her out of the bathroom and led her to the bed, lying on either side of her. “Do you want something to eat?” Wes asked.

  “Um, crackers? They seemed to help yesterday morning. And maybe juice, too.”

  Wes kissed her forehead and slipped from the bed, snagging his jeans from where he’d thrown them the night before. “I’ll be right back.”

  He glanced at Ray, who was holding Scarlett against his chest with a frown, then trudged up the stairs. He found his uncle in the kitchen, pouring a cup of coffee.

  “Morning,” he said, and Wes returned the sentiment.

  “Scarlett’s not feeling well.” Wes opened a cabinet and pulled a box of crackers down.

  “Oh?” Miles stirred milk into his coffee. “Max said she got sick yesterday morning. She seemed okay last night.”

  “She was.”

  “Well, that’s weird. Do you think something is making her ill in the basement? The wood-burning stove or another smell? You could move up to the spare bedroom.”

  Wes moved to the fridge and extracted three bottles of apple juice. “I’ll let you know. We spent almost the whole day downstairs. If there were something down there making her sick, it wouldn’t just be in the morning.”

  “Tell her we hope she feels better.”

  “I will, thanks.”

  Wes carried the crackers and juice downstairs and found Ray and Scarlett sitting up, both with strange lo
oks on their faces.

  “What’s up?” He sat down on the edge of the bed and handed off the apple juices. Ray took Scarlett’s and opened it.

  She blinked and smiled. “I think I know why I’m getting sick.”

  “Really? Uncle Miles thought it might be the basement.”

  Ray grinned. “It’s not the basement.”

  Wes frowned. “Then what?”

  “I’m pregnant,” Scarlett told him.

  “Are you sure?” Wes asked.

  She shrugged and took a small sip of apple juice. “I’m not positive, but it would explain my only getting sick in the morning. It’s been eight weeks since we were together. I haven’t been with anyone else and you didn’t use condoms. To be entirely honest, I haven’t gotten my period but I assumed it was stress. I’ve never been so wigged out in my entire life. Between having to leave you and my dad’s plans for my life, I couldn’t eat right, sleep right, or concentrate on anything.”

  Wes grimaced. “I’m sorry.”

  She put the lid on her apple juice and gave it to Ray. Then she launched herself at Wes and he tumbled to the bed while she giggled. “Don’t be sorry! I’m pregnant. It’s our baby!”

  Wes felt like his heart was going to pound out of his chest. He kissed her firmly and then brushed her hair from her face. “I’ll never be sorry again. You’re going to have a baby.”

  She grinned and her eyes danced. “This changes our situation entirely. My dad can’t ignore my pregnancy. I thought that once he discovered we were mated that he probably wouldn’t let me anywhere near Bent Creek, but my pregnancy cements our relationship. We’re mates and I’m carrying your pup. He can’t use me anymore.”

  “Cub.”

  “What?” She blinked big blue eyes at him.

  “Lions have cubs. Wolves have pups.”

  “Oh, right.” Her nose wrinkled. “Our sweet little cub.”

  “Give me some of that sugar, sweetheart,” Ray growled in happiness, and Scarlett crawled over to him and they kissed. Wes rolled to his side and reached for her hand. She clasped it as she kissed his brother.

  When the kiss ended, she looked at both of them. “I still want to wait until after we mate, but I think we can go back to Bent Creek and tell my dad what happened.”

  Wes’s stomach clenched at the thought of her facing her dad. “As long you as know we won’t be leaving your side.”

  “I know. I don’t want you to.”

  She leaned back against Ray, and Wes sat up and kissed her stomach. “Hey,” he whispered to her navel.

  She laughed. “He or she is too small to hear.”

  “Still,” he said with a smile. He looked up at Ray, who was grinning so broadly that it looked like his cheeks would crack. “That’s part of us in there.”

  She stroked her hand through his hair. “You’re not worried about whose baby it is?”

  Wes kissed her stomach again and sat up. “We’re twins, so it might be hard to say, but it wouldn’t matter anyway. He’s my brother and he’s your mate, so we’re a family together. Any kids you have are ours together.”

  Her eyes suddenly glistened with tears and she sniffled. “I have the best mates.”

  “We’re the lucky ones, Scarlett,” Ray said, kissing her neck.

  “It’s a tie. Now, where are those crackers?”

  After Scarlett ate two handfuls of crackers and drank all three of their apple juices, she declared she was ready to eat a real breakfast. As he and Ray watched her walk to the bathroom to shower, Wes said, “One of us should go get a pregnancy test.”

  Ray nodded, then got up from the bed and picked up the dirty clothes from the floor. “I will after breakfast.” He carried the clothes over to the separate laundry room and Wes heard the washer lid clang as it hit the back of the washer. Ray walked out a moment later and canted his head. Wes heard the shower turn on and Ray said, “I don’t think we should take her outside or back to Bent Creek anytime soon. I know she’s pregnant, but even after we mark her… there’s a part of me that doesn’t trust her father. I mean, this is a guy who thought nothing of giving his only daughter away to a complete stranger.”

  Wes nodded. “I was thinking that when we’re ready, we should go to Ashland first and maybe invite her parents down there instead of us walking into a literal wolf pack.”

  “Good idea. The pride will back us up if it’s necessary.”

  Wes didn’t want to think that Scarlett’s father would ignore her pregnancy and mating, but he didn’t know what to think of the man who had tried to trade her like she was currency. That little bundle growing inside their mate needed protection as much as Scarlett did. If that meant staying in King for a while and then setting up a meeting in Ashland with the pride at their backs, then that was what they’d do, and they’d convince Scarlett it was the right plan.

  Chapter 7

  Monday afternoon, Scarlett ran a cloth with wood polish across the mantel in the living room. The house was very clean, but it was important to her and her mates that everything sparkled in the room they were going to have their mating ceremony in. In wolf packs, the mating ceremony was presided over by the alpha, and he would ask the mates if they vowed themselves to each other. Her father would have asked if the male he had chosen for her would honor and protect her and their cubs, and the male would have answered yes, even if he was a total bastard and would treat her like crap.

  Wes put the glass cleaner on the windowsill and dropped the paper towel, coming to stand next to her. “What’s wrong, love?”

  “I was just thinking about our ceremony and what mine would have been like if you hadn’t saved me.”

  Wes slipped his arms around her. She rested her head on his chest, closing her eyes. “The pride males mark their females privately. The ceremony they have in front of the pride is really a marriage ceremony with mating vows mixed in. Ours will be unique, but we’re a unique trio. When we get married eventually, your family can come.”

  She peered up at him. “I’d like that.”

  “I’m glad our dad and our uncle can be here for us, but I’m sure you miss your mom and your brothers.”

  “Yeah.”

  “I’m sorry, love.”

  “Don’t be.” She straightened and smiled, forcing away the sad feelings. “This is a better life than I could have ever hoped for. You and Ray are mine and you love me.”

  “And you’re having our baby,” he said, grinning.

  Ray had brought back a pregnancy test after breakfast the day before and although she was certain she was pregnant, she had taken the test anyway and it had turned positive immediately.

  “That, too. If I could have chosen my future, it would have been this. To be with someone I loved forever was never supposed to be in the cards for me.”

  The front door opened and Ray walked in. He’d been gone for over an hour on an errand that he wouldn’t explain. Wes had also disappeared after lunch for an errand. She had a feeling they were getting things for the ceremony, but they both appeared to come back empty-handed.

  “You know what I just realized?” she asked as she kissed Ray hello.

  “What, sweetheart?” Ray asked.

  “I don’t have a dress to wear for the ceremony.”

  “Our dad has that figured out, love. Don’t worry,” Wes said.

  “Oh?” She raised a brow.

  Ray chuckled. “Trust us.”

  “I do.”

  Ray disappeared and Scarlett and Wes went back to cleaning. The day passed quickly as they cleaned every inch of the large living room and Ray and Wes moved the furniture out of it and brought in a few items. A white rectangular rug was placed in front of the window, the curtains drawn back so the full view of the woods was visible. A small table held four candles. Three of the candles were thin tapers in different shades of blue, and the fourth was a thick white pillar candle. Of the human ceremonies she’d researched since they began planning their ceremony, the candle-lighting portion had held her int
erest the most and Ray and Wes thought it was a fitting addition.

  After dinner, there was a knock at the front door. Miles left them in the family room where they’d been watching a rerun of a sitcom, and returned a few moments later with a male and a female. The female held several garment bags over one arm.

  “Scarlett, these are our friends, Tom and Dana Charming. They run the Charming Bed & Breakfast here in town. Dana has something special for you. Why don’t you take her down to the basement?” Miles said, grinning broadly.

  “Okay,” Scarlett said, then stood and shook their hands. She looked at Ray and Wes, who were smiling in a way that told her they knew exactly what the couple was doing in the house.

  “It’s nice to meet you,” Dana said as she followed Scarlett down into the basement.

  “You, too. I have to admit to being surprised, though. Miles and Max haven’t had any guests since we’ve been here.”

  Dana hung the garment bags on the top shelf of the storage unit. “We were sworn to secrecy. Tom, Max, and Miles went to high school together. The pride has always treated us very well, and we’ve always done our part to help out in any way they need. When he told us what you needed, there was no way I was going to leave you in the hands of men.”

  “What are you talking about?” Scarlett asked, watching as Dana lowered the zipper of one of the garment bags.

  “Your dress, of course!” She extracted a white dress from the bag, and then moved quickly to the other two bags, pulling white dresses from them as well. She hung all the dresses on the top shelf.

  Scarlett gasped. “Oh! I told Wes and Ray I needed a dress, and they told me they had it handled. I pictured them shopping themselves and honestly, I wasn’t sure they would even know what size I am.”

  “I had them check your clothes when they called me earlier. I know you’re going to be inside, so I went with short sleeves even though it’s cold outside. These aren’t real wedding dresses. Ray said you would be getting married back in Ashland, so I’ll leave that special dress up to you to find. These are the best I could do on short notice.”