Rivals: Episode Three Read online

  In truth, the danger was gone. The man who wanted to hurt me was dead and no one else had it out for me.

  Xavier and Gaige, both of whom I owed my life to, offered to each keep watch over me—individually—and make sure I was safe. I initially declined the offer, thinking I was better off with some space from everyone so that I could process all the events. I figured I would take a few days and then have a meeting between both of them to somehow sort out the tangled mess between us. But after that first stressful night back in my bedroom, I decided to have them at least come and check up on me sporadically. I didn’t want a 24/7 bodyguard and didn’t think they would be able to provide me with that anyway, but I did want some protection.

  I reached for the green see-through bottle of soap and poured a hefty amount onto my light pink loofa. I cleaned myself, allowing my thoughts to drift back to the two men that had fought so hard for my heart and then for my life.

  It was bizarre. Like I had simultaneously won one of the best and worst lotteries in the world. I had two incredibly sexy, powerful, affluent, and dominant men claiming to have somehow linked with me. And on my end? Well, I wasn’t sure if it was due to all the endorphins and adrenaline flooding my body, but I felt even more attracted to the both of them. Sure, it might have been knights-in-shining-armor syndrome, but there was more to it than just that. It was true what the both of them said, something happened on a chemical level, a bond that was hard to imagine breaking.

  I remember a very vivid moment during my time being captured. It was when everything was over and Elijah laid dead on the floor, drained of his blood. Xavier and come upstairs to retrieve me and bring me back down. I kept my eyes shut until we reached the outside. When I opened them, both Gaige and Xavier stood in front of me. Their concerned gazes scanned me for any signs of blood. But I wasn’t concerned with that. I was just so taken aback by how incredibly lucky I was to have these two looking out for me. Gaige, standing there in a pair of torn shorts he had found from one of the other shifters, was the first to take me into his arms. When we separated, Xavier stood there, his face stern and showing some exhaustion, but there was also a sense of relief in his features. I stepped towards him and opened my arms, not waiting for him to embrace me.

  Both of those hugs that night felt like I had just put together the last piece of a very important puzzle. Of course, I was just getting off a crazy rollercoaster of emotions, so everything felt multiplied by a factor of a thousand, but I still knew what I felt about them that night. It was like I had been searching for that one little jigsaw shaped piece my whole life, turning every rock and checking every corner, and I end up with two pieces, both needed to complete the whole damn thing. So it was at that moment, with the sun breaking over the ocean and casting an orange glow on the warehouses around us, that I knew I was destined for both of these men.

  Shit.

  I washed the shampoo out of my hair and turned the faucet, shutting off the water and opening the sliding glass door, releasing a wall of fog in the process. I never, ever, ever, imagined myself in this position.

  How am I supposed to date the both of them?

  I dried off and bundled my hair into the wet towel, making a tower of white fabric rise above my head. It played a precarious game of balance on my head as I slid on my underwear and stepped out of the bathroom. It had been a capsule for heat, so I was a little taken aback by how cold my apartment felt.

  I went into my living room and turned the air conditioning down. That’s when I felt it and shrieked, loud and inhuman.

  I shook my hand and dropped the cockroach onto the floor. But it was too late, the shriek had attracted the attention of both Gaige and Xavier, who immediately burst through my door and seemed ready to tear someone apart. I shrieked—again—and threw my arms over my chest, covering myself as best as I could except my arms weren’t exactly enough.

  “Are you ok?” Gaige asked, looking around the apartment with laser-focused eyes. I noticed his face had grown a thick bush of a dark brown beard since I had seen him last. Normally he had some stubble, but this time it covered that powerful jawline of his and yet somehow made him even more handsome.

  “I didn’t sense anyone in the area,” Xavier added, his eyes unabashedly passing over my half-naked body. I felt exposed, mainly because I wasn’t mentally prepared to have these two men come barreling in like that. And yet, something about my bare skin, my soft belly, my tits half falling out above my arm. It all came together and sent shivers down my spine, and they weren’t from the cold.

  “Yes, yeah I’m fine. It was that.” I point with my chin towards the cockroach scurrying away.

  “Seriously?” Gaige asked with a chuckle. The kind that makes him seem even more endearing than I thought possible.

  “What? I’m scared of bugs, along with like ninety-seven percent of the human population.”

  Gaige put his hands up. “Hey, hey. I was just wondering how one of the strongest women I know could be scared of something smaller than an iPhone.”

  Xavier, not participating in the obvious attempt at flirting, crushed the cockroach with a quick movement. If I hadn’t known he was a vampire and could move at incredible speeds, then I would have though the cockroach self-destructed.

  “There, done.”

  I smiled at Xavier. “Thanks,”

  He cracked a smile at me. “Anytime.”

  There was a charged element in the air. Something that spun around the room and felt like it was on the edge of exploding. Xavier’s stare was intense, but then I felt Gaige’s presence off to my right. I could almost feel the heat radiating off of his body.

  I want both of them.

  It was so weird to even think. I had no idea this was possible, and if I had known, I would never have thought it would happen to me. I considered myself so traditional and normal, not someone who would consider dating two men at once.

  What makes you think they would even agree to that?

  My pessimistic side reared it’s bumpy, wart-adorned head, knocking my fantasy down into reality. It was true, though. Even if I was open to the idea, they would need to find it ok too, and the way they acted around each other told me that was going to be near impossible.

  Xavier stepped forward, as if to kiss me goodbye, but took a quick glance over my shoulder, I presumed towards Gaige. He stopped himself and took a step back, his hands crossed behind his back.

  “I’ll be around,” he said, getting ready to leave.

  “Wait, you can stay, both of you,” I said, not sure where this courage was coming from but starting to relish it. I stood a little straighter now. So what if I was half-naked? These men had clearly wanted me, that’s something I needed to take a certain pride in. And not in the way that a dumb, vain girl would take pride in having the hottest football player wanting to bang her. It felt different for me. I was always way too hard on myself, so now was the chance to start letting all that go.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  KIMBERLY

  The butterflies in my belly whipped up a fury. A warm knot formed in my gut as I stood there, waiting for Xavier and Gaige to answer. The moment felt loaded, and I had no idea which way it was going to go. Xavier, his eyes drifting over my body once again, bit his bottom lip and stepped in.

  “Yeah, sure I’ll stay,” Gaige said, nonchalantly. As if I invited them to stay for a game of cards.

  “Ok, great. Let me put some clothes on and then I can make some tea.”

  Xavier shook his head. “Stay. There’s nothing you need to hide from me.”

  I looked at him. His attention was focused so solely on me that I was beginning to think he forgot Gaige was in the room.

  “Hey, if she wants to change, let her,” Gaige said defensively. “I would prefer you didn’t, obviously.”

  Xavier blinked and turned his head to look at Gaige. “Kimberly has been through a lot, I don’t want to add more on her plate.”

  “What are you talking about, Xavier?” I asked, unsure of wh
ere he was headed.

  “I didn’t leave tonight because I didn’t want to leave Gaige here by himself. But I must be honest with you, Kimberly. I am not comfortable sharing.”

  Shit, I knew there would still be jealousy. This is never going to work.

  “Why?” Gaige asked, surprising me. “It’s just a nature thing. We both imprinted with her, something none of us can deny. The least we can do is try things out, see what happens.”

  I looked to Gaige, impressed by the attitude he was taking this with.

  “Because,” Xavier answered, looking at me now, “I can’t imagine someone else with you. Someone pleasing you like I can. It makes my skin crawl. How do you expect me to sleep with you knowing that someone else fucked you when I wasn’t around?”

  I reeled back a little. I was beginning to realize just how big this can of worms was.

  “Who said you aren’t around?” Gaige asked. My eyes grew wider. I looked to him, just to make sure he wasn’t laughing and revealing that this was all some elaborate prank.

  He was dead serious. And that did wonders on my body, a warm knot blooming in my core. For some reason, his openness to the situation immediately made me squeeze my thighs together.

  “Are you kidding?” Xavier said, not taking it the same way I did.

  “No.” Gaige shrugged. “Listen, my instincts are rooted inside an animal. As long as I know that the connection between Kimberly and I is as strong as it is, unbreakable even, then I don’t give a fuck. I’m not blind either, you’re a handsome dude and you’re obviously successful. You care for her too. Enough to risk your eternal life on this planet. I understand that.”

  Wow.

  Xavier shook his head. “I can’t.”

  “Give me one good reason,” Gaige stepped forward.

  “Relax,” I interrupted.

  “I will not engage in this argument.”

  “So what? Are you going to make her choose right now? Between the both of us?” Gaige huffed. “After everything we’ve been through, I didn’t think you would be the one to hurt Kimberly.”

  Xavier’s eyes flashed with anger. “I would never hurt her.”

  “I know that,” I said, speaking up. “And I don’t want to put pressure on you either, Xavier. Trust me when I say that this has been the hardest time of my life, and yet this path lead me to the both of you. Two men I would have never imagined would be in my life. You both are so incredibly hot and passionate and you both saved my life. And like you guys said, there’s something chemical between us. I wouldn’t expect anyone to feel the connection I know is there. I didn’t feel it right off the bat, but I can’t deny it anymore.” Saying it felt like getting an elephant sized weight off my chest.

  Xavier’s eyes searched mine. I didn’t cower or step back in his gaze. I stood there, meeting it, letting him search my soul as I searched his.

  “You want to know the truth?” I said. “We were meant for each other, in a way neither of us can really explain. And the other truth? Gaige has that same exact connection with me. I can’t choose one. I don’t want to choose neither.”

  “And so the only option is to choose both.” Xavier narrowed those sapphire blue eyes.

  I nodded, my lips pursed. “Yeah.”

  In the next moment, his mouth was on mine, soft at first, almost tentative, but still telling me that he found what he was looking for in my eyes. And I found what I was searching for too. I met his kiss, my hand climbing up his sculpted back, sliding over the dark black t-shirt he had on, and reaching up past his neck and into his hair. He didn’t have much, but I still let my fingers twine through.

  His tongue traced my lips and I immediately felt a tremble spread from my pussy. He was so close, so solid in my hands. I was so close to seeing him walk out, and now I had his hard body pressed against mine. My tits were bare, pushed up against Xavier’s chest, making those warm sensations grow even hotter.

  That’s when I felt another pair of hands grab my hips.

  Oh god. My pussy throbbed now. Gaige, his hands firmly on my hips, pulled me back and laid his growing cock against my ass. He pushed up, sliding his semi-hard dick against me, making my need for him grow at an alarming pace. I suddenly craved having him in between my legs. Feeling his manhood grow to it’s massive length underneath me, spreading my soft, wet lips with his huge girth.

  Xavier bit down on my lip. It was hard enough to draw some blood and a gasp from me. But it did what he had meant, my attention was now back on him. The vampire’s hands went from my neck down to my chest. He cupped my breasts in his hands and made gentle circles around my nipples, sending me into a state of electrifying ecstasy.

  This was sensory overload. Both men wanted me. Both had huge cocks waiting for my body, pulsing to be inside of me. Their testosterone raged and pleaded for a sweet release, the same way my pussy ached to be filled, to be stretched by their solid cocks. It was a sexual peak I had never felt before, a passion and fire that threatened to consume me.

  I ground forward and felt Xavier’s massive erection over my already soaked panties. He had undone his jeans and lowered them to his thighs leaving only a pair of dark blue boxer-briefs that looked ready to burst with his full size. I pulled them down by the white waistband and released his cock. It sprung out, throbbing, his balls full and ready to be sucked.

  I cupped him, feeling his warmth in my palm, drawing a gasp from his lips as I wrapped around the base. I could barely close my hand around the full size.

  Not to be outdone, Gaige’s warm flesh met with my back. I felt drops of pre-cum wet the top of my ass, telling me just how hard Gaige was for me. My knees started to feel weak as Xavier continued to play with my nipples and Gaige continued to grind on my back.

  It was when his thick fingers slid underneath my panties and parted my wet lips that I let my body loose to the wave of ecstasy. The orgasm was unbelievably powerful and locked my every muscle, releasing them into a storm of convulsions as these two men brought me completely and totally over the edge. Gaige, seeing what was occurring, thought it was a perfect time to slide a finger into my pussy, my spasming walls wrapping around him.

  He curled his finger forward and sent me even further over the edge.

  “Oh fuck,” I said, breathless, shaking, holding onto Xavier’s shoulders to make sure I didn’t fall down to the floor as the second orgasm crashed through me. “Oh, god, oh yes.” I moaned as Gaige continued to push in deeper. Xavier moved from one nipple to the other, sending more firecrackers through my already rattled body. I felt myself getting so wet, so soaked that I was dripping down onto my panties underneath me.

  I needed one of them inside of me, filling me.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  KIMBERLY

  “Fuck me,” I said, to no one in particular. The small piece of me that could still think was having trouble reconciling the fact that I had two eager cocks on either side of me, veins throbbing and pre-come leaking down in clear ropes.

  Xavier grabbed his cock and rubbed the tip against my engorged clit, sending waves of fire through me. I pushed my hips forward, almost begging for his cock to part my slit. Gaige, as if in answer, pulled me back harder, crushing his cock against my soft ass. I felt him pulse against me. His fingers moved from my pussy and back to my hips.

  Holy shit, these men are fighting for a piece of me.

  “You’re so fucking hot,” he breathed into my ear. I reached behind and put a hand through his hair. It was longer than Xavier’s, so I could actually pull his head back. He seemed to appreciate it by answering me with a moan and another thrust of his throbbing hard cock. My back was wet with his pre-come now, sticky against his dick.

  My insides were on fire with a yearning now. A pressure inside of me was building to uncontrollable levels. And Xavier was not making it any easier, the way the tip of his huge cock would slide against my entrance. And just before I thought he was going to plunge in deep, he would pull back and just slide his shaft against me. It drove me wild
and made my pussy quiver in slick anticipation.

  “Please,” I found myself pleading softly. Desperately.

  “Do you want this? Do you want my cock buried inside of you?” Xavier’s voice was low but commanding.

  “Yes, please.” I whimpered as he pushed his head past my wet, plump lips.

  “Oh, god,” I said, loud and uncontrolled.

  “Say my name,” he commanded. I felt Gaige’s grip on me get tighter.

  “Xavier,” I moaned.

  “Again.”

  “Xavier.” His cock pushed deeper, stretching me. I was wet enough to take him, but he wasn’t even all the way in and I had to spread my legs wider to accommodate him.

  Gaige licked the back of my neck and drew another moan from my lips. His hands wrapped around to slid across my poking nipples, the sensations sending me into small spasms as Xavier continued to thrust into me. He was almost completely inside, his cock dripping in my juices.

  “Who’s inside of you?” Xavier whispered into my ear.

  “Xavier,” I gasped as he pushed in with one full stroke. He felt huge, massive inside of me, pushing me open with his warm cock. It was incredible. I never felt more full, more complete. I pushed down, wanting even more of him, as much as he could give me.

  Gaige’s teeth grazed my shoulder as his rock-hard cock slipped underneath me. Xavier thrust upwards again and I pushed my thighs closer together. The sensation of Xavier inside of me and Gaige’s hardness just underneath made me spasm with ecstasy.

  “I want you to suck me off while he fucks you,” Gaige said in a low growl. I felt like I was going to start drooling on the spot. I moaned again as Xavier gave me one last thrust and slipped out with a wet sound, leaving me quivering for more. I slipped a finger down to my clit and rubbed, unable to have a moment without touching myself. Xavier grabbed me by my other hand and lead me to the couch.