"I'm talking thousands of years ago here, El.Back then, I'm certain shifters stuck with shifters.Now, we integrate.We have no choice.There are too many humans not to.In that time?Shifters might well have been the dominant species.It's not like we'll ever know because there's no way to research it.And maybe, if the situation had been like it is today, the Triad bond wouldn't exist.But it does.
"And let me explain, Lions mate with humans.A lot of the species don't.The Pantera being one of them "
The breath she released was shaky."So, what you're saying is that my mother was a Pantera, who shouldn't have had an affair with my father.And if that wasn't bad enough, she had a child who was a daughter."
Marc nodded grimly."Exactly.Two wrongs on so many Pantera levels.Not only that, but I have a feeling your mother was related to somebody important."
Her eyes widened."Why?"
"For the Pantera to have been targeting you, trying to get you away from your father, who is who he is, that requires top level sanction.No ordinary Pantera would be allowed such freedom with Council funds."
She gulped."When did everything get so complicated?"
Marc let out a soft, sad sigh.He reached over to tuck some hair behind her ear, and murmured, "Since the day you were born, baby."
As the hotwater cascaded over him, Marc reached for his cock.Guilt lanced him at the need spiraling throughout his body.El had gone to sleep in tears last night.Her sobs had nearly broken his fucking heart, and here he was, jacking off in the shower.
Letting out a groan as his hand sped up, and with each pass his thumb caressed the sensitive tip of his cock, it wouldn't take much to come.This was need.Pure, animalistic need.It had no emotion.No connection.Another reason for him to feel guilt.
Sex was no longer something he had to do, not now El was in his life.But the body needed what the body needed, and if that went in contradiction to his heart, nobody won.
Tilting his head back as release approached, he nearly jumped out of his skin when the door opened.With the water running, his sense of smell was barely there, so he dropped his cock and turned to make sure it was El, not Shawn.
Not that being caught in the act by either of them would be considered fortuitous.
Even though he whipped around quickly, the door to the shower opened.He didn’t jolt at the grating sound because he knew it was El.Only she’d enter the shower when he was there.
Shawn had certainly made his disgust at the idea of a threesome felt.
“What are you doing up?”he asked his mate softly, loving the soft, sleepy eyes she cast over him.The languid glance had his hard cock twitching with need.
Naked, she was a delight.All curves and ripe lusciousness.
A true woman.
So rounded and sweet that his dick ached.
She licked her lips, her gaze on his erection as she stepped toward him; her hand outreached.
His eyes widened and he reached for her fingers.“You don’t have to do that.”
His soft remark had her frowning.“Why wouldn’t I want to?”
He sighed.“You’ve been through a lot these past few days, El.I don’t want to add to that burden.”
She grabbed his other hand and shocked the hell out of him by dragging it between her legs.“Feel that?”she demanded grimly.“That’s me.Wanting you.”
He groaned and immediately slipped his fingers into her slick core.She was so fucking wet that he couldn’t help himself.He made her squeal when he slid his fingers inside her core, then hooked them forward.Using his hold on her there, he dragged her toward him with a chuckle, loving how she slapped at his chest, making water splash everywhere.
“Jerk!”she declared breathily.
He grinned, thanking the Mother that she wasn’t scared of him.If anything, could fight fire with fire.
“Maybe,” he conceded, tilting his head to drop a kiss on the tip of her nose as he curled his fingers once more and rubbed her clit with the back of his wrist.
She clamped her legs together, holding his hand hostage, then pressed her forehead to his chest.His grin widened when she stayed silent, then it disappeared, morphing into a low moan when she grabbed a hold of his pec and bit down—not letting go.
Loving her wildness, he rewarded her by plunging harder into her wetness.She was tense against him, a rigid statue in his arms as he put her body through its paces.
