Hunted Flame Read online

  “You’re not in a coma. This is really happening. Don’t worry about it right now. We’ll talk more, and you have a couple days to get to know us and realize there’s more. You’ll begin to feel the connection.” Phoenix rose. “We’ll get you something to eat and your medication. It’s time for you to take it.”

  “Not sure I want to take any medication. The last one put me out and I woke up here.” She folded her arms across her chest. “Why didn’t you just talk to me about the George Smith thing?”

  “To start off with honesty, it wasn’t the pills that knocked you out. It was a shot.” Noah straightened away from the wall. “If there was more time, we might have tried to talk to you. We barely found you in time.”

  “That doctor is one of you, isn’t he?” She clenched her teeth. The doctor had drugged her so they could get her out of there quietly. Damn it.

  Considering her headache, the danger was real enough, but was it any safer to stay here?

  Chapter Four

  Tempest scowled at Noah. The man wore a button-down green shirt and black pants. All it needed was a jacket and tie and he’d be office ready. He wasn’t going anywhere, though. No, the stubborn man for some reason had put some distance between them.

  Sawyer had left for work at his woodworking shop hours ago. He’d muttered something about moving his projects, but who knew what that was about. Phoenix went off to his work at a company called Gar-Corp. And Noah, he hadn’t said what he did, but he stood in the doorway to the living room.

  When they’d come here after breakfast, he’d said they’d talk. Not that they’d done much actual talking about anything in the hours before lunch or since. They’d argued. She’d ignored him or tried to when he’d gotten on her nerves. She hadn’t pushed too hard.

  It had been three days since she’d woken up here and she hadn’t found a way to leave and be safe yet. At least, the killer headache had faded, but her memories of the attack remained cloudy. All she needed was a chance. Well, and a way out.

  “You know you’re pushing it with the attitude, Tempest.” Noah leveled a hard look at her. “And you know it’s not going to work. Yesterday, you crawled into Phoenix’s lap once you settled down. It will be the same this time, too.”

  She clenched her fist. A rush of heat swept up her cheeks. He had to remind her about that. “And I told him and all of you that’s not going to happen again.”

  “So, what’s the problem with it today? You want us. You’re pulled to us.” Noah lowered onto the brown couch beside her.

  “Just because I want something doesn’t mean I have to have it. Especially if it wouldn’t be good for me. On top of that, this is all just unbelievable. Three men sharing a woman. Where does that happen outside of fantasy or porn?” She waved her hand. Even if she’d love to see more of their hard bodies. “How does the relationship work?”

  “It happens here. And it works because that’s the relationship we’ve been raised to enjoy. We compromise. We work things out.” Noah stroked his fingers over her hand. “Will you jerk away if I explore a little?”

  She shook her head. “But I don’t come from your people. I don’t live in your world. A relationship like you want wouldn’t work in the real world.”

  Noah chuckled. “It works. And you will be one of us. There are ways we get around the human moral strictures. You’re right that a lot of people wouldn’t accept a ménage relationship if they knew about it.”

  “How do you get around it?” She tilted her head. Hell, for some people, just a hint of that type of relationship could ruin their career.

  “Well, if it’s a public situation like a conference, one of us would always go with you. One of us would be the public face, so to speak. But a lot of our life would be among the gargoyles here. A good deal of us work for gargoyle companies or are self-employed.” Noah slipped his hand beneath hers.

  “Is that why you always seem to be close? Do you work from here?” She tilted her hand but didn’t pull her hand away from his. The warmth of his palm seeped into her, relaxing her.

  “No, right now, I’m working security for the community. I worked at a human company for about fifteen years in the IT field, but I can’t go back into that field right now. They’d notice there was something different about me. I knew way too many people to chance going to any training or conferences. It’s almost mandatory to do that.” Noah shook his head.

  “You worked for fifteen years? Did you start when you were fifteen?” Her mouth dropped open, and she stared at him. He couldn’t have been working in IT for fifteen years. He was too young.

  He drew in a breath. “Tempest, we’ve told you that we aren’t human. You’ve seen the change. We don’t age like humans. I’m seventy years old. And when you change, your aging will slow as well.”

  She bit her lip. Considering how much was strange about them, a little ménage sex probably didn’t seem that weird to them. “It’s just so strange sitting here beside you and thinking you’re seventy when you look like you do.”

  He squeezed her hand. “It’s something that takes some time to get used to for those who weren’t born into it.”

  “Are Sawyer and Phoenix around the same age as you are?” She frowned. Damn, he’d been around awhile. Still looked absolutely delicious, but that was a long time. She’d seen them change, but that didn’t mean everything was real. Could she believe what they said? How in hell would he prove he’d been alive that long?

  “Sawyer is a year younger than me, and Phoenix is two years older,” he explained.

  “You know I still don’t get it, but more especially now. You are all so much older than me. What will we have in common?” She exhaled. Well, not only that. They were all so together, and she was struggling to get her footing.

  “I think we told you we recognized you. We’ll find a lot in common. Don’t think I didn’t see you looking at the coding books we have on the tablet we let you use.”

  “It doesn’t have internet access.” She scowled at him. They seemed to have thought of everything.

  Her phone had disappeared. Any connection to the outside required a damn password, and she hadn’t had any time alone since she’d been brought here. No time to try a few random options.

  One of them slept in her room on an air mattress. But that was probably something fleeting considering how pulled she was to them. She’d been a moment away from kissing Phoenix yesterday, and all he’d done was sit next to her, talk, and touch her hand. The attraction was off the scale compared to anything she’d felt before.

  “We know that you’re not ready to accept us yet. Even if you doubt it at times, you are in danger. We’re not going to lose you,” he said, then lifted her hand and kissed it.

  “I know you’re not from that far back.” She shook her head. Such a courtly gesture. Warmth spread through her.

  “Hey, I know a good thing when I see it in a movie.” He smiled.

  She laughed. Damn, in spite of them keeping her here, they’d treated her well. And they were protecting her. She didn’t doubt the danger. Someone had attacked her. It hadn’t been one of them. The man had been almost her size, older looking with a stubbly beard. This might not be the best place to stay since the community was already a target.

  “Why is the attraction so off the charts with you, Sawyer, and Phoenix?” She turned and pressed her free hand against his chest. Getting closer wasn’t a good idea. Heat radiated against her palm. Fuck, even his warmth drew her.

  “It’s the mating pull and a bit of pheromones.” Noah leaned back. “If you want, you can unbutton my shirt. I don’t mind if you explore.”

  She licked her lips. “Pheromones, like the stuff that’s supposed to be in that stinky cologne that sends most women running away rather than to?”

  “In a way, like that, though I doubt that stuff has any actual pheromones in it. Or maybe not the right ones. Gargoyle pheromones are stronger, and even though you’re human, you’re our mate. It will excite you.” Noah lifted
a shoulder.

  She pushed one button through the hole. “Would it excite others? Will other women be as attracted to you as I am?”

  “Not by the smell. I can’t guarantee that they won’t be attracted by looks, but we won’t be interested in them. You’re it for us. The woman we want.” Noah trailed his hand over her cheek. “Do you intend to ignore my offer, woman, or are you giving it a lot of thought? That might put an irreparable dent in my ego.”

  She smiled. So dramatic. “Trying to talk myself out of it, but I don’t think I can.”

  “Why would you talk yourself out of it?” He cocked his head.

  “I have the feeling that if I give an inch, you three will take over completely.” She bit her lip. And in a couple ways, it didn’t sound that bad.

  “We won’t take you over completely.” Noah shook his head. “We want you to be happy.”

  “But you’re keeping me here, and there’s this insistence about the mate stuff. Which I still think is bull. You’re altering my entire life. I had plans, you know.” She lowered her head and stared at the buttons on his dark green shirt. At least, work was the only thing she was missing. If she’d been back in school, it could be classes as well.

  “What did you have planned? I’d like to know more about you than the vital statistics.” He brushed his hand down her arm. “The mate stuff is real. You feel the attraction to us.”

  “I do feel it.” She nodded. It was so strong it was a little scary. “I’m not certain that it’s anything but lust, because you three are hot.”

  He drew his finger over her cheek. “It’s more, little treasure. I can’t say what we would have done if there wasn’t the danger facing us. I’d like to think we would have tried to introduce you to our life in some way different than taking you. I’m not sure how we would have done that. The hunters were already here. They’d already attacked one of the men on that list.”

  She narrowed her eyes on him. “Treasure? What’s that about?”

  “You deserve a special name, and we’ve been searching for you for a long time. You’re our treasure. What do you think of it? And don’t think I’ve forgotten about your ignoring the question about what your plans are.” He twirled one of the red strands of hair around his finger. “You’re a surprise to me, and from what I’ve seen, you are a bundle of energy.”

  “I don’t mind treasure as a nickname. It’s way better than ‘red,’ which is what most people start out with. And I was saving up money to go back to school this fall.” She bit her lip. She’d taken the spring semester off to tend to her grandfather’s affairs.

  “What were you going to school for?”

  “Computer programming, software development.” She lifted a shoulder. How software worked had always interested her.

  “We can help you with that.” He tilted his head.

  “I don’t need your money.” She shook her head. No way would she take a loan from them. She would do this on her own.

  “I’m not saying we’d pay for it,” Noah said, holding his hands up. “Though we would if you were willing to let us. But I have experience in graphic design and Phoenix does, too, but we also have delved into the software area. We can help if you need.”

  “Sorry about that.” She shook her head. Heat washed over her cheeks. Hell, maybe she should have let him explain. Not everyone was out to take advantage. “I guess I overreacted.”

  “Why did you react like that?”

  “It’s kind of habit by now.”

  “Why is it habit?” Noah frowned.

  “My father and my cousin. They’re both douche bags.” She pressed her hand to his chest. Her family was fucked up, and she hadn’t been able to relax around them at all.

  His eyes narrowed. “What did they do?”

  “Tried to do, but that doesn’t matter right now.” She shook her head. No way would she unload on him just because he asked.

  The muscles along his jaw flexed. He took a deep breath. “When you’re ready to talk about it, we’ll be ready to listen.”

  “All right.” She plucked at the button on his shirt. He was being sweet, even though he obviously wanted to demand an answer. “Does the offer to touch you still stand?”

  Chapter Five

  Hopefully, he’d let her continue on.

  “Yes, Tempest, you can touch me if you want. You don’t have to try to distract me, though.” He drew his fingers over her cheek.

  “I’m not trying to distract you.” Maybe herself, but not him. Thinking about her family could put her in a hugely bad mood.

  “Then by all means, explore.” He put one arm on the back of the couch and the other on the arm rest.

  She unbuttoned his shirt. The fabric parted, revealing his golden skin. She slipped her fingers into the open v and smoothed over his skin. He was so warm. And his smell. The scent teased her. Light and sometimes fleeting, she couldn’t quite identify what it was. It was a little musky and definitely sexy.

  “I like exploring like this, but I don’t know how long you’ll be able to take it. I don’t want to tease you,” she said as she shook her head and pulled back.

  He pressed her hand to his chest. “Little treasure, I can take it.”

  “I’m not so certain about me. Don’t laugh, but I’m not sure I’ll want to pull back.” She swirled her fingers across the taut bead of his nipple before she finished unbuttoning his shirt. Sometimes, it was hard to remember why she needed to stay away from them.

  “Sweet, little Tempest, I won’t laugh at that. Not when I haven’t wanted to walk away from you every night you’ve been here.”

  “That’s sweet.” She leaned forward and pressed her lips to his cheek. “You’re so warm. I’ve never noticed a man’s warmth before.”

  A low growl rumbled from him.

  “Oh, so now you’re getting growly. What? Are you already giving up when you said that you could take it?” She leaned back and raised a brow. If that was his limit, they wouldn’t make it far at all.

  His chest expanded as he drew in a deep breath. “No, I’m not giving up. Just not that happy about the mention of other men.”

  “That wasn’t me talking about anyone specific, just a remark about how strange it is to be noticing the heat rolling off your body, not to mention the way I want to cuddle up to you.” She pushed his shirt even wider. Okay, maybe she shouldn’t have said it that way.

  Her eyes drifted over his muscled pecs to his abs. Damn, talk about a six pack. She trailed her fingers over his stomach.

  “I want to cuddle up to you, too.” He smiled. “But to be honest, part of it is the attraction between mates.”

  “I thought so.” But he got extra points for mentioning it. She leaned in and swiped her tongue over his chest.

  He closed his eyes. “You might want to slow down. Do you know where this is leading?”

  “Sex. I don’t mind sex. Right now, I could ride you until we both fell apart.” She trailed her fingers up to the brown disk of his nipple. Damn, he was so lickable.

  “No, it’s not just sex.” He shook his head. “It will be a mating if it happens. Not just simple sex.”

  “I’ve told you that I don’t believe in matings, that everything will change just because we have sex.” She poked her finger against his chest. If it was that easy to tie someone to them, they probably wouldn’t touch anyone until they found that one. None of the men were that innocent.

  “Well, things will change, even if you don’t believe it. I don’t want you to say I didn’t warn you if this happens.” Noah’s hand lifted and cupped the back of her head.

  “I’ve been warned.” She rose to one knee and pressed a kiss to his lips. It was just a little play and maybe some sex. “And it won’t change anything.”

  “That’s clear enough. Do you think you’re up to being touched by two of us? Maybe three of us, if Phoenix makes it home in time,” Sawyer said, strolling into the room. A black and white shirt clung to his shoulders and jeans encased his hips. />
  She turned her head. A tingle of warmth curled through her. Two pairs of hands on her. Damn, he did know how to tempt her.

  “As long as you keep in mind that this won’t change anything. Mates don’t apply to humans.” She leaned in and nibbled on Noah’s neck. And they hadn’t given her any proof that would change her mind.

  Sawyer laughed. “We’ll have to agree to disagree there, because it definitely will mean something to you.” His hands smoothed over her shoulders. “You’re a little tense here. Have you been worrying?”

  “A little.” She nodded. Warmth seeped into her as he rubbed his thumbs over her shoulders. She ran her hands over Noah’s chest. Two men touching her felt good. Not as strange as she expected.

  “I’ll give you a little massage. You keep teasing Noah. He’s still doing good and doesn’t need to run a mile yet.” Sawyer kneaded her shoulders.

  She laughed. What an exaggeration. “I don’t think he’ll need to run a mile.”

  “Yeah, it will probably be about three.” Noah frowned.

  “Want to see these breasts?” Sawyer slid his hand around and cupped her breast through her blue shirt.

  She leaned in and pressed a kiss to Noah’s lips. Such a ham. He opened for her. She lapped at the lower curve before delving inside. He tasted so damn good. No other man had ever given her such free run of his body.

  “Yes,” Noah groaned against her lips.

  She slid his shirt away until it hung on his arms. So much muscled skin to play with. Sawyer tugged her back. He gathered the bottom of her shirt and tugged it up. Her shirt bunched under her arms. She skimmed her fingers over Noah’s chest.

  Sawyer eased the shirt up more. The fabric tugged her arms upward when Sawyer pulled it over her head. She turned and glared at the man.

  “You’re interfering with my touching.” She faced forward and once again plucked at Noah’s nipples.

  He jerked. A thrill rushed through her. Damn, she loved drawing a response from him. He shifted restlessly on the couch.

  “I had to get that shirt off you. If you wore a button down shirt, I wouldn’t have to pull it over your head. I’ll have to disturb you again unless you don’t mind me ripping your bra off.” Sawyer tugged at her bra.