The Women Between

Chapter 17: The Tease

“Did you have a good time?” Gregory asked with a huskiness in his voice.

Thomas heard his brother break the silence in this brown hallway, almost startling him. His head jerked even towards Gregory, and he looked at him cautiously with tension written on his face. He could not help, noticing that Callus was in his eyes as if begging their mate to say she was happy. But his wolf, Zeal, was, also, in his eyes in this semi-dark brown hallway. He needed him to guide them the way to their rooms. It did not dissipate the worry that filled his mind of whether his brother may not be able to contain himself so close to her. He nearly lost it when he scented her the first time, which was unusual for him. His brother has always been controlled and well-groomed for the crown.

He turned his head to watch where they were walking, but there was nothing in this empty hallway. It does not even identify it as the alpha’s wing. This is where the guests, their betas, and they can stay in luxury with the doors spaced far enough between each other for privacy. Each floor was made bland and color coded with bathrooms inside the rooms except for the omega's and the warrior's floor. They have bathrooms that are communal. And only the alpha’s floor has more than bedrooms for entertainment purposes with security pads on each one. Plus, their rooms are the only ones secretly guarded so that Cassandra does not feel uncomfortable.

But now, he could feel her stiffen slightly to the sound of Gregory’s voice. Was she startled by his voice suddenly sounding after a long moment of silence? He completely understands that. His brother only asked a question out of the blue instead of basking in her beauty like he was. The fact that the three of them were walking stealthily on the green carpet probably made her jittery, too.

“Yes,” Cassandra said firmly with a wider smile that lit up her eyes after she settled her quickly beating heart. “Everyone was pleasant. I liked the decorations the best. I just hope that the Head Omega does not get put out when I begin taking more and more of the position from her."

“I’m sure she will be graceful about it,” Thomas said, giving her a reassuring rub on her back.

He wanted to give his little brother a chance to speak, but he could not help it. He had been usurped during breakfast by his brother’s witty response, so he had to pay him back now. The quick frown that flitted over Gregory's face made his smirk grow that he had managed to thwart him.

His brother hardly ever takes a woman to bed, and even then, it is when the pressure becomes too much for him. He never goes around having fun for any reason, like this morning when the Council wanted their attention. It was his duty to respond, according to him, but it was both of their duties to respond to the fears about their mate. Thomas had chosen to get to know her versus go and entertain their silly notions. That was enough for him to sacrifice this one thing for his brother’s sanity, while pushing it a little to get a laugh.

Thomas wants her, though. He hopes that those two finish their side of the mating, so he can have fun with her, too. He was already proud to call her a mate, especially with the answer she gave about the rogues and separating them from fighting. It was a tactic, poised, and with a hint of anger that flared in her eyes like fire burning in the grass. He wanted to see it again, but the Luna Ceremony Dinner was not the place to do that. He will have to find the right time to make her angry enough to look that way, especially so she can become that seductress, again.

Gregory and he halted their rant to the Head Delta and Gamma when she presented herself to one and sucked Thomas' finger. They were threatening them that if their mate was harmed in any way or touched wrong, someone was going to die. He knew that his brother would be the first to commit to the threat before he would. He has a more laxed side that will hear a person out while feeling the fire brewing under his skin. She stopped them midsentence with that one little act that had them panting, and Thomas could not help reminiscence about it.

“Yes,” Gregory nodded firmly, showing his awkwardness with his hands clasped together. He looked like he did not know what to do with them, while she was there, which meant he needed some encouragement. “Janet has always shown her regal side whenever things change, whether in her favor or not.”

My arm is around her waist. Why not try to grab her hand and kiss it, then thread your fingers through it, Brother.

I know what to do, Thomas!

The tension in his voice showed that he is nervous when it is just the three of them. He knew this would happen. It did not help that their brother’s arousal was making things difficult for Gregory to act like a mate. He tries to control himself around anyone and everyone. It is going to end in disaster if he does not relax a little around her.

“I liked how you managed to thwart us with the Heads of the Hierarchy,” Thomas jibbed in. He is trying to get his brother to calm down using business. It seems to be the only thing that makes him think instead of acting like a nervous teenager, which he finds funny. “I thought that was an interesting tact.”

“And what did you mean by what you said to Matt?” Gregory asked, turning to her suddenly.

His brother’s expression was one of curiosity and worry. It gave Thomas a bit of worry, too. Out of the two brothers, Gregory was the most dominant. His jealousy streak is a mile wide, where she cannot look at a male without it spurring to life. Is he going after the beta now? His brother looked a bit jealous at him, but he was sure Matt had done nothing wrong. He did not even feel anything between his mate and him and that said she likes him. In fact, the smell coming off her was amusement and gratitude.

“He advised me to trust the mate bond,” she hedged while biting her cheek, which looked very adorable. Thomas wanted to stop her from being so insecure about answering Gregory’s question, but this was a matter between them. She must see that he is not going to hurt her. Right? “So, I did most of the night. However, I am back to normal mode, so I do not do anything impulsively.”

“Is that why you stopped us from mind-linking the Head Delta and Gamma?” Thomas asked, surprised.

“I noticed that you both had gotten jealous,” she mumbled with a blush to her face that he wanted to deepen. She stopped in front of her door and removed herself from Thomas’ hands, leaving him cold and needy for her. She grabbed Gregory’s hands and looked between them, giving a sheepish smile that looked innocent and guilty. He can see the sexy goddess in her that begs him to take her now, especially with the image of her rear in his face. “I did not want them to pay a penalty for something that was my doing.”

“I see,” Thomas chuckled.

“Well, thank you, my mates, for a splendid evening,” Cassandra said softly, looking hesitantly at them. Then, she lifted up her toes, giving him a peck on Thomas' cheek before kissing Gregory’s cheek. “Goodnight.”

“Goodnight,” the two brothers said softly.

Thomas felt the sparks and tingles erupt on his cheek when she planted her lips there. It was ever so soft and delicate that it simmered the beast inside him that wanted her beneath them- naked and crying out in passion. He had to push it down, reminding Zeal of the agreement they had made with their brother. It made him regret the decision with the way her hips swayed like a doggie treat for him to follow. Then, there is the lilt to her voice when one of them or both of them are near her. The arousal produced in her just by their presence says she wants them, but the redness of her cheeks says she is not ready, yet. It all made him want to end her insecurities with one or four rounds in bed.

“Oh, Thomas, Gregory,” Cassandra called as they had just turned around. She had placed her hand on the door knob as she looked back at them. She noticed that they had their hopes written on their faces. A blush crept onto her face at the way their eyes looked wide and dewy. “I almost forgot to ask you for a file. I met a wolfless girl, tonight- Maggie. And well…”

He wanted to curse as she looked so sexy, biting her lip and looking at them so sweetly with those eyes. They are the color of a freshly made sky in spring as the sun rises over the horizon. They are just as luminous as the sun itself, which made him want to shift and take a run to burn off his s****l needs.

“If there are any others,” she continued, sounding firmer as she forged on, “I would like to have the file on them, so I could be a mentor to them. They can come to me when they feel alienated or alone, since I have no wolf. I know that I am not wolf born, but I do know what it feels like to be the odd man out.”

“So, you’re going to form a club that has no wolves allowed in it?” Gregory teased with a smirk on his face.

That a boy, Thomas thought, eagerly. He hopes that it provokes the fire in her, or at least, another hot kiss between them. One more and he is sure those two will be in bed together for a couple of days.

“No,” she giggled, batting her eyes at him playfully. “Wolves are allowed, especially the handsome alphas that have shown me a good time so far.”

That made Thomas want to strip her down and take her right there for her flirtatious way. Zeal has his tongue hanging out of his mouth. It may not be for them, but still, they could not help these feelings surging through them. He could hear his heart thumping slowly because of that compliment she had given them. He wishes that it would lead to more than a good night with a door closed between them.

“We’ll see what we can do,” Thomas said wistfully and gave her a nod. “Is there anything else, my Tigress?”

That jerked Gregory’s attention towards him with a perked brow. He knows that he just came between them, but she is too beautiful to stop himself. She looks so cute, right now, with that little smile and her teeth biting down on the inside of her cheek. Her eyes flicked between them with uncertainty written in her eyes. He could not help his million dollar smile that caught a lot of ladies' attention.

“Nnno,” Cassandra said nervously as she flicked her eyes between them, showing worry on her face. “Yes, I mean. The zipper,” she pointed to her back, “I need help with the zipper to my dress.”

Gregory stepped forward as she turned around and unzipped it for her very slowly. Thomas watched her cheeks turn redder with each second, while he smirked. Her legs shifted twice while standing still and her hands shook as she brushed back her hair. She was giving them this one piece to quell their need to be her mate, he thought, feeling the shock mingle with his lust. Her nostrils flared with each deep breath to calm down, especially when his brother leaned forward. He was done and nuzzled her neck, causing her body to become stiff at the arousal flooding through her. They could smell it thickly in the air. He could not stop the smirk that grew wider on his face while watching Gregory tease their mate.

“Is there anything else you would like tonight, Beautiful?” he whispered in her ear with his husky voice.

“Thank you,” Cassandra breathed. Her voice sounded like an airy whisper. A ghost would make that sound while contacting a human, except it was feminine and filled with need that made him eager to try his luck. “I am good.”

“Well. You are…” Gregory began to correct her speech, but she turned around with her arms crossed and a frown on her face. He lowered his head, realizing his mistake, and corrected himself. “Yes, goodnight, Beautiful.”

“One more thing,” Thomas said softly as he approached her, refusing to leave her with Gregory's screw up on her mind. A frown was on her face as she looked at him. “There was something I felt through the mate bond that I know I must correct immediately.”

She opened her mouth to ask what it was, but he grabbed her by the waist and pulled her in for a kiss. That silenced any words she would have spoken, even the squeak that she let out as he leaned her back. The flames engulfed him from the minute his lips touched hers, driving his needs higher than a moment ago. He knows she feels it, too, as she gripped her dress before snaking one hand around his neck. It soon became a duel with their lips as they tasted each other- mint chocolate chip. He pulled her lower lip into his mouth after a minute to taste it better, wondering when she had some tonight.

He could feel the thumping of his heart turn mad by that, making his right hand slide to her rear and grab it. His left hand remained wrapped around her shoulders, pressing her breasts against him. It spurred so many dirty thoughts into his mind that he knew they would have fun when he could initiate them. He is coming alive with this kiss that pushed his reserves to take her, too. Her lips moved against his in response to him that is demanding and unyielding. He groaned in sheer pleasure that she would know how to give back what he was giving to her. He had to part their lips, though, or take her to bed. There was no choice once he felt his wolf starting to fight him for control.

“I’m sorry,” Thomas said as he breathed as heavily as she was, “but one tease deserves another.”

“Then, I guess it is my turn,” Gregory said eagerly.

He moves out of the way for his brother to take her before she realizes what they are doing to her. The dazed look in her eyes said that she was kissed thoroughly by him. It was enough that she did not have time to refuse Gregory when he dipped her and brushed his lips over hers.

A gasp slipped out of her that made her lips part for him, but he was not satisfied with that. Thomas could see it in the slow rise of his lips and the look in his eyes bearing a little bit of amusement. Slowly, the tip of his tongue licked lightly around the edges of her mouth, which made her eyes widen and furthered her arousal. It smells like heaven to him, hoping that she gives in to her body’s needs, but she will not, he knows. Even as she tried to draw Gregory’s lips closer to hers, he knew that she needed more time. Those feathery touches with his lips are an enticement that made her want him, and she would be thinking about this for a while.

He is amused at how big of a teaser his little brother is towards their mate.

Then, he kissed her, taking a little of her lips into his mouth like he was tasting them. He cannot blame his brother after how he tasted her goodness. She is addictive with one taste, but then, he noticed that his right hand had gone through the opening at the back of her dress. He wanted to smirk and send his brother a well-deserved clap on the back for being so audacious about his attack on her senses. But it would distract him from what he was doing, especially when he righted her and ended the kiss.

“That was the best taste of lips I’ve ever had,” Gregory complimented with a shark-like smile.

Cassandra looked dazed with her plump lips parted wide and her breath coming out heavily. Neither brother was any better with their breathing as the sparks and tingles had woven through their bodies. She, though, looked like a freight train was coming for her without the look of fear in her eyes. They looked wider than he thought possible for a woman. It almost made Thomas feel sorry for her, except the smirk on Gregory’s face looked too evil. He wonders what he had done that he did not catch.

“Goodnight, Beautiful,” Gregory called as he pulled his brother along to leave her for the night.

Some things are left to the imagination, so stop looking at me that way.

He did not realize that his eyes had widened slightly at him, too. Then, there was the disappointment he could feel worming around his heart. He knows that they left their mate dazed and needy, but still, his kiss was far more fire than that. It almost made jealousy spur in him. He wanted her to look that way after his kiss. He had kissed countless women and they all had that look except her. What has he done wrong?

Thump!

“Dammit!” Cassandra hissed.

Thomas’ head jerked around to see her holding her forehead and opening the door at the same time. She looked embarrassed, and he wanted to laugh as he knew what had happened to her. It made their efforts to disarm her worth it. She ran into the door while watching them walk away after being driven with need for them. Maybe they could convince her to give them together, he thought, seeing a scene play out in his mind. He wonders what tomorrow will hold, since he is the alpha for the week and Gregory is the king, who will meet with the Council for a week.

It was their agreement for when she woke up that one week would be for one brother and the other would get the next week. It would allow both of them one-on-one time unless she wanted to speak to the other brother. The third week, though, is theirs together, which will get her adapted to them both, since she will have an attachment to them after one-on-one. The plan seems full proof for them to make her like them both enough to rid herself of the monogamy in her head.

“Thomas,” Gregory called when they were at their doors, “I will need to talk to you before I go to the Council Chambers, tomorrow.”

“Of course,” he nodded with his brows knitted together, wondering what had happened at the meeting. “I am presuming that it is about Cass.”

“It is,” he nodded, looking grim.

“Your look says enough,” Thomas nearly growled. “We will speak about it tomorrow, and enjoy tonight’s victory with our Luna.”

“Yes,” Gregory chuckled breathily, showing that he was falling for her fast.