Two Lone Wolves Page 4

  So tonight’s plan was to dance with her, to make a more obvious play for her attention, and hopefully to get her to come back to their cabin again, but this time for something more than her just sitting silently in a chair against the wall.

  Greg was ready before Hadrian, wearing his navy dress pants, black business shoes, a burgundy button-down shirt, and a navy-and-burgundy necktie. He leaned against the wall watching Hadrian put on shiny dress boots with a low heel. Hadrian was wearing a plain white shirt. With his black hair and black pants and tanned skin, white looked very stark and eye-catching on him.

  “I’m going to see if Ivory will dance with me more than once tonight,” he said, watching Hadrian carefully.

  “My idea was to take her to supper and see if she’ll agree to come back here with us again. Unfortunately there’s nothing we can do if she says no, but I thought it was worth asking.”

  “I agree. She said she needed to think and she’s had all day for that. It’s a bit of a worry the dance classes have as many people as ever turning up. I thought a lot of people might just want to check that their dancing wasn’t too bad and they’d only come once or twice. Instead of that, the classes are just getting bigger. I reckon more than a quarter of the people attend one of them now.”

  “Yes. Maybe as many as a third of all attendees come along. I would have thought the running groups would attract more people than dancing. But maybe they do. I haven’t actually joined one so I don’t know,” said Hadrian standing up.

  Greg punched Hadrian on the arm. “Let’s go do it.”

  * * * *

  Hadrian waited patiently in line to enter the ballroom. The women were always signed in first. It was the polite thing to do, not to make the women wait, but it also made him wonder about the need for security. Security had seemed very strong right from the moment he’d arrived. Cars weren’t even allowed onto the conference center property until those in them had produced their paperwork at the gate. Even then the security guards had looked in the car checking the foot wells and backseat as well as the trunk, presumably in case a person was being smuggled into the conference center.

  Then people were scanned in and out of every event, using the number stamped on their left hand. That big blue number wouldn’t wash off, but would fade in a month or so. It’d be too bad if he worked in some city office job with humans and would be laughed at for the next three weeks. As it was, likely he’d be wearing latex gloves at work at the clinic more than normal to keep it covered up.

  Still, if this all led to Ivory agreeing to mate him and Greg, it would be so very worthwhile. But why were there security guards everywhere? A shape-shifter mating was not legal unless all the parties involved consented freely. Stealing women really made so sense. All they had to do was refuse to consent and even if the men mated them they could just walk out one day and the mating would no longer exist. Did some wolves hope the women would fall in love with them after they’d been abducted? Surely no one would be that naive?

  And it couldn’t be worries about robbery or else the guards would be patrolling all the little stores, not guarding the doors of the parties. Besides, all up there’d be maybe three hundred people here. Even stealing everything here it’d hardly enough to make it worthwhile risking a long jail stretch if they were caught.

  Hadrian shrugged. He needed to think about wooing and winning Ivory, not about the security guards who were probably only doing their job. His job was to claim Ivory and make love to her so successfully she never wanted to look at anyone other than him and Greg.

  He’d bought a couple of dozen tiny apple blossom tea lights, and the box containing them and a box of matches were in the nightstand drawer. If she agreed to come back to his cabin tonight, he could have them set up and lit in five minutes or less. That should make the atmosphere a bit more romantic. Other than that, his plan was to give her so many orgasms the only word she could think of saying to them would be yes.

  For a Dom, it wasn’t much of a plan, but it would have to do. Meanwhile every time she talked to him, every moment they were together, he was gathering information about her so he could plan a proper BDSM scene for her. He thought body painting might be good. She was obviously creative and artistic and the three of them could likely have some fun with that. But mostly he just ached to hold her, to possess her, to demonstrate to her that she would be loved and cherished beyond her wildest dreams if she would only trust them.

  When he and Greg were finally scanned into the ballroom, the scene that greeted them was worth the wait. The room had been transformed into a black-and-white dance party. A huge disco ball was rotating over the center of the dance floor, flashing white-and-silver light as it turned. Swathes of black-and-white streamers hung from the walls and ceiling. Black-and-white helium balloons were tied in bunches and anchored to the backs of the chairs and the legs of the little end tables around the edges of the room.

  Without speaking, he and Greg began circling the room, looking for Ivory and Ebony. He had to struggle to hide his grin. It was almost as if the party had been named for the two of them. Ebony with her long black hair, and Ivory with her blonde bob. One day he ought to ask Ivory whatever had possessed her mother to name them like that. Hmm. Maybe she would think the question insulted her mom. Hadrian didn’t mean to be rude. He was just curious. But perhaps he’d need to be careful how he phrased his question. But the party tonight could almost have been designed as a framework to showcase them both.

  Greg started to move faster and Hadrian guessed he’d seen Ivory. He glanced at Greg to see where he was looking, followed the direction of his gaze, and then he saw Ivory as well. He snorted with laughter and then tried to cover it with a cough. The sisters were wearing identical dresses. Slim-fitting ones that outlined their breasts and hips, but flared out below the hips so they could dance. The dresses had spaghetti straps and a square neckline just showing the tops of the curve of their breasts. Ebony’s was black, and Ivory’s white.

  “You both look lovely tonight,” said Greg as soon as they arrived.

  “You like our joke?” asked Ivory twirling around and showing him the back of her dress. He almost swallowed his tongue. There was no back of the dress. It plunged to her waistline.

  “I do. Very much. I assume Dorothea told you what tonight’s theme would be.”

  “Oh yes. She said we were her inspiration. Coming up with a formal dance, a western theme, a barbecue, and the final night’s special dinner was easy enough, but she was stuck for an idea for tonight. Then she thought of us, and had her theme,” said Ebony.

  “How did you get your names?” he asked, forgetting about his plan to ease into the topic carefully.

  “Dad was so excited when he had a girl that he wanted to name me after a precious gemstone or something like that. I had a lot of black hair so he called me Ebony. Which isn’t exactly a gem but near enough.”

  “Then when I was born he’d been so sure I would be a boy that he and Mom didn’t even a girl’s name picked out. I had blonde hair so he decided to keep on with the theme and called me Ivory even though a lot of blonde babies’ hair turns darker quite soon.”

  “But yours didn’t change color so he was right,” said Greg smiling.

  Hadrian stared at Ivory wondering if she dyed her hair. He hadn’t seen her undressed so didn’t know for sure the blonde was still natural. Or maybe she shaved her pussy. Maybe her most tender, most intimate skin was naked. That would be wonderful if it was.

  But Ivory just grinned. “Yes, he had a winner with my name. My hair never darkened. Of course, sometimes he wished he’d been like everyone else and had boys, although, overall I think he was still pleased to have girls even though we’re not wolves.”

  “I’m sure he’s very proud of you both. He’s reared two fine women,” said Greg.

  The music began right them and several wolves appeared all wanting to dance with Ebony and Ivory. Hadrian stepped back. His plan was for later in the evening. He waited patien
tly and timed his request as best he could, asking her for the supper dance, several dances ahead of time and getting her approval.

  Of course many other people wanted to talk to her as well as him over supper, but he and Greg sat on either side of her, and he very deliberately touched her arm occasionally to test and see if she’d withdraw from him. When she didn’t, he had his answer. Before the music could begin again he bent his head to her ear and whispered, “Will you please come back to our cabin with Greg and me tonight?”

  She lifted her gaze to his and nodded decisively. “All right.”

  Instantly, Hadrian’s cock got so hard it was painful. She’d said yes. At last he could show her how much he wanted to care for her.

  Chapter Three

  Ivory shivered as she walked between Greg and Hadrian to their cabin at the conclusion of the party. Immediately both men wrapped their arms around her and hugged her to keep her warm.

  “You should have brought a wrap,” Greg chided her.

  “I never carry a purse or a wrap. It’s too easy for them to get lost or stolen.”

  “What about your door key?” asked Hadrian.

  She giggled. “In my bra. That’s where I keep my cell phone when I need to take it with me as well.”

  “How can you be wearing a bra? There’s no back in that dress,” asked Greg.

  “This dress has a built-in bra, which is even better. That way there can never be a wardrobe malfunction.”

  “I can see I have a lot to learn about women’s clothing. I hope you will teach me what I need to know,” said Hadrian.

  Ivory shivered again and this time she thought the men might be able to tell her shivers were not from cold but from lust. They both looked totally delicious in their handsome clothing. They looked good in their exercise clothing in dance class each morning too, all their muscles gleaming with sweat. But right now she was thinking that she’d like to see them naked. Of course she’d seen every inch of Greg undressed, and he was a mighty fine specimen indeed. His cock had been half-hard with a neat mushroom cap, his balls nestled in among a riot of brown curls. His chest had been all washboard abs and his thighs and arms looked even better out of his clothes than they did after he’d been exercising.

  Now she was looking forward to seeing Hadrian naked, and both men aroused.

  This was to be a test for them.

  When she’d been in her senior year she’d been hopelessly in love with Matt. Matt was everything a girl could want in a boy. Tall, blond, athletic, and good at schoolwork. He drove a nice car, always dressed well, and had invitations to all the best parties and tickets to all the latest movies.

  When he’d broken up with his stunningly beautiful girlfriend and started dating Ivory she’d been at first surprised, and then ecstatic. He was everything she’d ever wanted and she agreed to everything he asked of her because she loved him. Ivory was certain he’d marry her and they’d live happily ever after.

  He’d requested her virginity and she’d given it to him willingly, pleased she’d waited for the most wonderful boy she’d ever met. He demanded anal sex and even though it’d hurt even worse than when he took her virginity, she’d never said no, because he was her dream man.

  Even when he’d insisted she do all his homework for him, and spend all her weekends sitting on the sidelines watching him play sport or just play a scratch game with his friends, she’d never complained because she belonged to him. Ghostwriting his assignments was a privilege, in her mind.

  And then one night he’d pulled her onto his lap in his car, ripped her panties off, fucked her hard, then pushed her off him and told her she’d have to find her own way home because he had a new, better girlfriend. She was left standing on the side of the road, her heart broken in two. By the time she’d walked the five miles home she’d had a long hard look at Matt, and had come to understand he’d never loved her. She’d loved him, but never once had he gone out of his way to please her, or even to ask what she wanted. Because she’d never wanted anything but to be with him.

  She’d gone to school the next day dry eyed and determined never to make that mistake again. There’d been other boyfriends, but never had she left herself open to being used.

  Would Hadrian and Greg pass the test? Would they really love her?

  * * * *

  “You’re very quiet. Are you chilled?” Greg stroked his palm up and down Ivory’s arm. Her skin was cool, but not cold. He didn’t think she’d caught cold but she was usually smiling and talking and she hadn’t spoken for several minutes.

  “No, just thinking.”

  “If you don’t want to come with us, you’re perfectly free to change your mind. I’d like you to be here with us, but if it’s not what you want, we’ll walk you back to your cabin,” said Greg.

  He caught Hadrian’s frown and then his quick nod. He’d hate to have to take her home after he’d thought she was going to spend time alone with them, but it was her decision. It had to be her choice to be with them.

  Of course he was hoping for a whole lot more than just some private conversation. His dick was hankering after some doona dancing of the most erotic kind. But it was up to Ivory. If she didn’t want to talk, far less kiss or fuck, he had to respect her decision even if his dick exploded with lack of action.

  “I’m content to be here. I haven’t changed my mind.”

  Greg wasn’t sure whether that was a good answer or not. “Content to be here” wasn’t exactly a huge vote of faith in them. Still, she was here and he’d told her he’d take her back to her own cabin if that’s what she wanted.

  He unlocked the door and flipped the light on, before ushering her inside. Of course, she’d come in the previous night but she’d simply sat where Hadrian had told her to. She hadn’t moved around the space at all. But then again, likely it was exactly the same as the cabin she and her sister shared anyway. His thinking was so muddled. He wanted her so badly but didn’t dare take her in his arms and kiss her until neither of them could breathe, which was what he desperately wanted to do.

  No other woman had ever affected him like this before. Always in the past he’d known what he wanted. In this case he’d have kissed the woman and waited to see how she reacted. But here and now Ivory was so special to him he couldn’t bear the thought of doing anything that might antagonize her or spoil their chances of her agreeing to stay with them tonight.

  Hadrian opened his nightstand drawer and took out a box. He began setting tiny tea candles around the room, resting them on almost every flat surface. Soon there were a couple of dozen tiny flickering lights and the sweet scent of apple blossom was in the air. Greg was glad Hadrian had thought of doing it. The soft lights and pleasant scent really did make the cabin a bit more special.

  “Would you like coffee? Or I have bottled water?” Greg asked Ivory.

  “Water please. The dancing makes me thirsty.”

  “Hadrian, coffee or water?”

  “Water is fine, thanks.”

  Greg decided to go with the majority and took three bottles of water out of the small bar refrigerator, placing them on the little table. Ivory moved across the room and sat with her back to the wall. Greg wondered if that made her feel safer, or if she just wanted to look at the candles.

  He opened the closet and took one of his sweaters off the shelf, offering it to Ivory. “Are you cold? Would you like to borrow this?”

  “I’m not cold exactly, but it always seems cooler away from the crowd and when I stop moving around, so thank you.”

  She didn’t pull it over her head, but instead, she draped it across her shoulders, so it covered her bare back and then she tied the sleeves across her breasts, so it covered her arms. It looked a little weird, but he liked her wearing his sweater. He wanted to be of use to her, to help her, to enable her to be happy. Lending her his sweater was such an insignificant thing, but it let him feel as if he was taking care of her.

  “You have questions, hesitations, something holding you back f
rom deepening our relationship. What do you want to ask us?” Hadrian asked Ivory.

  Greg fixed his gaze to her face. He wouldn’t have had to the courage to ask her outright like that, but he supposed the words needed to be said if they were to progress. Time was fast running out, so being direct had some definite positive aspects to it. Plus she couldn’t pretend she didn’t understand what they were asking.

  “You both work at the shape-shifter clinic. Where do you live?”

  “There’s an apartment building on the outside edge of town maybe twenty minutes from the clinic and we both have apartments there. Quite a few people from the clinic live there,” answered Greg. That was an easy question. Hadrian could answer the next one which would likely be harder.

  “What about the future? What are your plans?”

  Aha. He’d been right to jump in. The questions were getting more difficult.

  “We’re both very happy working with shape-shifters. Shape-shifters need a different kind of rehabilitation program from humans. Many shifters mend faster so exercise needs to be accelerated. But shifters can also be extremely stubborn and injure themselves with their determination to do too much too soon. I like that because I’m a werewolf myself I can understand their thought processes and help them,” said Hadrian.

  “That’s helpful and good to know, but you didn’t answer the question.”

  Greg had to work hard not to show emotion on his face. Damn, she was smart.

  Hadrian gave her a piercing look from under his black brows. Ivory stared straight back at him her own blue eyes innocent. This time Greg had to look down to hide the fact that his lips were twitching with the urge to smile at them both.

  “Greg and I hold several certificates and we can work in a range of rehabilitation areas. I know you and Ebony are very close. If you wanted to live near her, I feel sure we could get work at a hospital or rehab facility nearby. Unless she moved to an area with very high unemployment. Although if that’s what you really wanted, I expect we could find work somewhere.”