Alcandian Soul Read online

  The pond was smooth.

  Chapter Eight

  Her stomach woke her up. The room was still dark, but two days without food and there was no way she could sleep through the rumbling of her belly. But the idea of eating was slightly unnerving. She’d never had a food allergy. Her stomach rumbled again and Cole shifted. His hand smoothed over her belly as he lifted his head and blinked. She was lying between the two warriors, their body heat keeping her warm.

  “You must be starving.”

  Dyne rolled off the bed at the same time Cole did. The light level increased the moment movement registered in the main computer, but it was dim night-lighting. Cole and Dyne were busy pulling their coats onto their shoulders, both males having already gotten their pants on before she blinked the slumber from her eyes. It was weird the way they worked together. Her face burned with heat as she considered just how effective that teamwork was when they were in bed together. There was no sign of morning, leaving the room in dim night-lighting. It didn’t appear to bother either warrior. She caught a faint scuffing sound as they stepped into their boots. They finished and locked stares with each other. A battle waged between them for a moment. Cassandra sat up as they both turned to look at her. She fumbled with the sheet, pulling it up to cover her nude body.

  “I can get my own chow.” Stepping off the bed, she frowned as she looked around for her clothing. “Where are my fatigues?”

  Twin smug looks covered both men’s faces. “Destroyed. The medical team cut them off you in two seconds flat.” Cole sounded far too pleased by that fact too.

  Dyne took the opportunity to move towards the door curtain. “I will acquire food. You will have to choose Alcandian garments for your next appearance outside this chamber. Or remain here.”

  “Oh, you’d enjoy that too.”

  Dyne didn’t hear her. The curtain swished as it fell closed behind him and her words were hissed in a near whisper anyway. Her face was still burning because she’d forgotten that the chamber didn’t have any door or even a complete wall.

  “Yes, I would. As of tomorrow night, this is my chamber as well.” The look on Cole’s face dared her to dispute his claim.

  Cassandra bit back her reply. No matter what she answered, it was going to sound bad. If she insisted she wasn’t interested in sharing a room with him, the rumpled bed was going to make her into a liar. Turning her head, she noticed that the computer hadn’t replaced the rumpled sheets because it was still before dawn. Tucking the sheet around her body, she moved away from the bed and the blatant reminder of her rather rash impulse to let go of her protests. She rolled a shoulder, attempting to shrug off her concern, but froze as the muscles in her back ached.

  “What’s wrong?” Cole was next to her instantly. Cassandra jumped away from his sudden invasion of her space. He frowned before hooking her biceps and pulling her back in front of him.

  “You enjoyed being next to me, babe.” His voice dared her to deny it.

  “I’m fine.” She shrugged against the hold on her arm but had to bite into her lower lip as pain from sore muscles snaked down her spine.

  “What hurts?” Cole pulled her sheet right off her body as he turned her to inspect her back. He ran his hand over her shoulders and down her spine, searching for the cause of her aches. “Cassandra? Answer me. Is it really that hard to talk with me? You managed sex without trying to pull away.”

  “Oh, trust a guy to bring up sex. Like that proves anything.” Cole flashed her a cocky grin in response, but it faded as he smoothed a hand over her back again. This time his touch was a little firmer and it felt delightful. His breath teased her ear as his hands closed around her shoulders to hold her in front of him.

  “It proves a great deal, honey. But I’ll be happy to prove it to you over and over again. In fact, I hope you never get used to the idea.”

  She shivered. It was a response that made her scowl but she couldn’t deny the way her body quivered with a little ripple of anticipation. Memory flashed across her brain of the way it had felt to be pressed between both hard bodies. Proved? Well, it had spoiled her, that much she would admit. A relationship with a single guy was going to come up short compared to the amazing intensity of the way they had both been focused on her.

  It was just possible she’d found a reason to remain on Alcandar. Cassandra frowned, she needed to remember that even hot sex wasn’t a good reason to do anything that was going to become permanent in your life.

  “You know relationships built on sex don’t tend to last very long, Cole.” Her voice was too sad for her taste, but she needed to voice her concern. It was wedged tight against her heart, making it ache as the idea of breaking up loomed in her brain.

  Cole caught her chin. “It was a whole hell of a lot more than sex and you know it, Cass. Tomorrow we’re going to face a Yedith and take formal vows.” He pressed a hard thumb against her lips to seal them shut. “And you will show up, or we’ll leave you wanting next time. All you have to do is testify that you haven’t made any promises to any other men.”

  “So what does that prove?” Her back ached when she moved, making her suck her breath in as pain twisted through her back. Cole grunted before reaching across the distance between them and hooking her shoulder with one huge hand.

  “It declares that all three of us are not playing cheating games and the relationship can proceed if we decide to do so later. Honor really is the foundation of Alcandian society, warriors don’t cheat here, and neither do women.”

  “Cool.” The word just slipped past her lips. Cole’s hands felt wonderful as they worked the soreness from her back. A little hum of appreciation rose from her throat as she felt the distinct enjoyment from Cole inside her mind. It was the lightest of contacts, but it sure was intimate. Somehow, it felt completely correct to have him not only touching her, but filling her mind as well.

  “You are cold?” Dyne joined her thoughts as she straightened up. The scent of food drifted to her nose, overriding her enjoyment of Cole’s back massage.

  “No, it’s a slang term that means she thinks Alcandian binding customs are agreeable to her.”

  Cassandra turned and jabbed a finger into Cole’s abdomen. He sprung back from the sharp attack but never stopped grinning at her. “Don’t push your luck, Somerton.”

  Dyne didn’t like her use of Cole’s last name. She felt his disapproval through their linked thoughts, but refused to make any apologies. Turning around, she moved towards the meal he’d brought her.

  “You’re going to have to get used to military humor, Dyne.”

  Considering what he’d brought her, she hesitated before selecting something that looked a lot like a sandwich. There was another flaky pastry like the one she’d eaten that morning and the sight of it made her shudder.

  “At least you do not know my family name.” Dyne placed the tray he’d used to carry the food on the small table and picked up another sandwich-looking item. Cassandra offered him a smug smile.

  “Does that mean this Yedith won’t be using your surname tomorrow? Might be a good reason to attend.”

  Dyne’s eyes flashed. Temper flared across their mind link before he captured her hand and leaned across the space separating them. “I am glad you agree to taking vows.”

  There was an ominous tone in his voice that sent a shiver down her spine.

  “I didn’t say that.”

  Cole burst into her mind a second before he pulled her right out of the chair. Her sheet fluttered to the tile as he clasped her against his hard frame. Smug male arrogance flooded her brain from both males. But the emotion that really caught her attention was the relief she felt from the pair of warriors. Sweet, honest relief that she was going to pledge with them. It hit her square in the heart because no man had ever valued her affection so much. It was humbling.

  Dyne stared at the hard points her nipples had contracted into. He tossed his halfeaten food down as he stood up. A shiver shook her body so hard it was almost frightening. T
he response to both males was so intense, she felt out of control. They’d already had sex, and there was a part of her that desperately needed to know if once was going to be enough for any of them.

  Was it lust or binding fever? Heat surged up her body as her clit throbbed for attention again. If anything, it was faster and hotter this time. No flimsy emotion like lust could rekindle so fast.

  “I’m curious, Cassandra. Exactly what is it you’re so interested in returning to on Earth?” Cole’s voice was edged with frustration as one arm clamped her to his body and his other hand spread out wide over her belly. Her passage ached as he slid that hand all the way down to her recently bared mons. Her clit begged for a touch from his finger but he nipped her ear with his teeth instead. “Rinehart locked you up. There’s nothing waiting for you on Earth, at least nothing as good as what you have right here.” His finger slid into her slit and found her clit.

  “As our mate you will never suffer loneliness again, heloni. That means beloved and I never use words that I do not mean.” Dyne’s eyes flashed as he opened his uniform coat. He didn’t waste a single second on tossing the garment aside before he closed the gap between them. He cupped her breasts as Cole rubbed her clit. Cassandra gasped as her skin turned hot. She didn’t need any clothing anymore. All she craved was to be just as she was, nude and pressed from toe to head between the equally hard bodies of her warriors.

  “You can’t love me. You just met me.” She hated how forlorn she sounded.

  Dyne’s eyes flashed once again. The blue lightning was strangely hypnotic and she stared at it as he tightened his grip on her breasts. “Our minds have linked. There can be no greater intimacy between mates. Even if you return to your home world, we will always be in each other’s thoughts. Love is growing between us, a deeper form of it than you will ever find with a human.”

  Cole rubbed her clit a little harder as his breath teased her ear. “Think about that, Cassandra. Being with another man. Just let the idea cross your mind.”

  She did and it horrified her. Both warriors chuckled at her response. Dyne tossed his remaining clothing aside and she reached for him instinctively now that they were both bare once again. Cole lifted her so that her arms could slip over his companion’s shoulders. “You see, Cassandra, there isn’t any turning back.”

  An odd need invaded her heart. She grasped Dyne as Cole lifted her towards him. Dyne released her breasts and caught her thighs. The large warrior easily spread her wide as the head of his cock slipped into the wet folds of her sex. It felt completely natural. To move towards his penetration. His cock thrust hard into her body as Cole pressed her completely onto his length. Dyne took her weight as he cupped each side of her bottom and held her impaled on his cock. She wanted to move but he held her tight. Cole’s maroon jacket went flying onto the bed as Dyne held her, waiting for Cole to join their embrace.

  “No single male could love you as we will, Cassandra.” Cole stroked her spine and trailed his fingers between the spread cheeks of her bottom. He fingered her rear opening as she gasped but Dyne leaned down to seal her mouth closed with a kiss. Cole teased her bottom for a long moment before he touched her with a lubricant of some kind. He coated the entire area before pressing a finger deep into her.

  She shivered as sensation raced through her. Being filled in both places pressed Dyne’s cock harder against her clit. A moan broke through Dyne’s kiss as Cole pulled his finger free and applied more lubricant. Dyne lifted his mouth and stared at her as Cole inserted a second finger. He worked both in and out as she shivered.

  “Alcandian females stretch their bottoms from the time of their maturity in anticipation of being shared. You will enjoy being filled completely.” Dyne’s voice was rich with a promise that made her shiver.

  The cock inside her twitched as Cole removed his fingers. He pressed the head of his cock against her prepared bottom and slowly pressed his cock forward. The skin stretched, and pain zipped through her. Cole froze instantly as he waited for her body to adjust. She didn’t have to say anything, not even a whimper, but she wanted to. She wanted to moan out loud with the excess of sensation. She was astonished to discover her body capable of such heights of pleasure.

  Cole was right, this wasn’t sex.

  He chuckled softly next to her ear and his cock left her bottom. He thrust slowly back into her, this time pressing more of his length inside her. Need rose higher, and even the nips of pain as her bottom stretched around his cock weren’t enough to keep her from demanding more action. She needed to move, craved their companionship in feeding the storm of need lashing at her. There was nothing but that craving and the two men who could feed it.

  The hands on her bottom tightened as Dyne pulled his cock free. Cole thrust forward at the same moment and his cock sank deeper into her body. As Cole pulled loose, Dyne thrust smoothly into her pussy once more. It made for an insane sort of torment. They continued to thrust opposite each other as a need to be impaled at the same time grew in her. Pleasure alternated between the sort she knew as Dyne’s cock rubbed over her clit and the new sensation of having her bottom completely penetrated. She gasped as their speed failed to increase and she recognized why. They were waiting for her to demand it from them, a vocal declaration to end all her protests. Honor might govern the warriors of Alcandar, but they were still male and ruled by their pride.

  “Together.” They obeyed instantly. Her heart twisted as she felt them push into her at the same time, not because they wanted it, but because she demanded it from them. Pleasure spiked through her as her body protested both cocks lodging inside her at the same time. It almost hurt, but not quite and the sensation joined the throbbing in her clit, making her frantic. She tried to buck towards Dyne but his grip controlled her hips completely. Her fingers clawed at his shoulders as she whimpered with need. Opening her eyes, she glared at him but his eyes flashed as he tightened his hold on her hips again.

  “Tell me you will face the Yedith with us.”

  Cassandra hit him and cussed. Cole’s hand slapped down on top of her lips as he shushed her. “There is only a half wall, Cassandra. We want your vow, not an excuse for a shotgun wedding.”

  And Cole had said he’d leave her wanting. That they would leave her…

  Her body didn’t care about pride and neither did her heart. Just the idea of them exiting the room made her chest hiccup with a tiny sob. The idea slashed pain through her as she tightened her hands around Dyne. But both warriors were iron-clad determined, their bodies holding rigid as they waited for her to answer.

  But they were worth it. She suddenly realized that sex wasn’t worth anything without the respect. “Yes, I will see your Yedith.”

  They moved at the same time. Pressing deep into her body as they held her between them. Pleasure spiked and twisted through them, their flesh and they shared it courtesy of the mind link that allowed their thoughts to merge. Cole’s chest shook violently behind her as he held his growl in and Dyne hid his face against her neck as climax made his seed shoot deep into her belly. Cassandra had no idea how many times she climaxed. Pleasure ripped through her and then twisted more as both cocks spurted hot seed into her. For a moment she feared they would just collapse into a heap on the tile floor as their muscles twitched in the aftermath.

  “We would never drop you.” Dyne’s voice was infused with male pride. He lifted his face from her neck but stopped to press a kiss against her mouth. “So do not fear weakness in us.”

  Her own muscles were a pile of goo. She wanted nothing more than to cuddle up and enjoy the ripples of delight moving through her. But the second Dyne lowered her legs, pain returned as her sore muscles intruded on her bliss.

  “Did we hurt you?” Cole’s voice was gruff. She tried to shift away from the concern she heard in it. The emotion touched off another wave of tenderness and she was beginning to enjoy being valued by him too much. Uncertainty filled her as she contemplated just what she’d promised them.

  “I’m just
sore from the anaphylactic shock. It makes the muscles tense. What happened anyway? I’m only allergic to fire ants, not food.”

  Cole sent his hands over her shoulders. A little groan escaped her lips as he gently massaged the aching muscles. “A problem with engineering genes is that the Alcandians did a really good job. Their food isn’t just full of vitamins that might aid the immune system, these nutrients get into the body and seek out bacteria and abnormal cells.”

  “You’re joking.” Cole was still rubbing her back. Standing still for his touch was fine as long as the topic remained benign. She caught his male scent and enjoyed the way it set off a soft throb in her clit again. It wasn’t true need, just a gentle reminder that passion would return, and the fact that no one had ever satisfied her as they had done. Dyne was slowly rubbing her hips and upper thighs as his breathing slowed down. Her hands rested on his biceps and she found her fingers gently returning the massage, rubbing at the stiff biceps that had held her up for their possession.

  “Nope. Wonder what happened to me? The food triggered another growth spurt, but don’t worry, that appears to only happen to males.” His hands moved down to her lower back, and she leaned forward to let him work at the knots sitting there, her head resting against Dyne, keeping their embrace intact. “Anaphylactic shock is a result of your body flooding your system with antibodies in response to a foreign body. In this case, whatever you ate had a similar compound.”

  “It will not happen again.” Dyne’s voice was hard with determination. His eyes flashed right before he scooped her up. He lowered her onto the bed and folded his body around hers. The bed moved as Cole joined on the other side, making it sort of clear why the bed was round. There was no corner or place for a warrior to get caught. Among a race of ultra Special Forces, it made sense.

  And her spot was in the center. She couldn’t shake off the pure bliss that surrounded her as legs tangled and her nose caught both male scents. Even in spite of not eating, her body was so comfortable she drifted into slumber again, never noticing that her company didn’t.