Page 29 of Doubly Claimed
“You see—” Ross began.
“Enough!” the biggest male there growled, and she turned to face him, unimpressed.
“I am Callan McGregor, and this is Landry Smyth. We are the Heads of the Council of Triads and your sweet-tempered sister is our mate!” he yelled at the closed door where Sage was currently throwing things.
“Oh, you two are in so much trouble,” Ginger snorted. “Excuse me.”
“Wait, love...” Ross stepped forward, concerned. “Is it safe in there?”
More glass being broken sounded, but Ginger knew this side of her oldest sibling well.
“Yeah, I’ll be fine, but can you two be darlings and get us some coffee? Ooh, and chocolate bear claws from the bakery! Thanks.”
“Uh, okay.” Misha looked confused, so she stepped forward and pulled him down for a kiss. Wrapping her arm around Ross, she tugged him in close for one as well.
“We will order them right away, love.”
“Be careful,” Misha said, eyeing the door to Sage’s room like he was contemplating going in.
“Don’t worry. You should school your friends though.” She winked.
This might not be how she planned this trip, or her future for that matter, but Ginger knew in her heart things turned out exactly how they were supposed to. Ross and Misha were exactly what she’d been missing her entire life.
Her stomach grumbled, and she patted her belly. She’d be fed soon enough. Her mates would see to it. The truth in that statement made her smile, as did the brush of her mates against her mind. She didn’t have the exact hang of it yet, but it was getting stronger.
Especially when they made love. At first, it had almost overwhelmed her. Their combined need and lust for her was off the charts. And then there’d been something else, something she was afraid to name, but it was there all the same. Affection, caring, friendship, and desire. All necessary for the foundation they’d need for a strong relationship built on respect and trust, and another more powerful emotion.
Yes, the men were ready to lay claim to their intense feelings, but she needed time. Love was a big step. One that she wanted, but there was no rush. They had forever together, or so Ross had said. Her mates held her close, then stepped back and allowed her space to go to her sister.
Sage needed her. If she read the situation right, her sister had just found out she’d mated the two Shifters that were currently snarling and growling at Ginger’s mates.
Tension filled her, but Ross assured her through their matebond they were fine. Callan and Landry were their oldest friends, and they were good people. She knew her mates could handle them while she spoke to Sage.
“Sis? I am coming in, don’t throw anything!” she instructed.
The sight that greeted her was unexpected and a little worrisome. Sage was her older sister, always the calmest and put together of the three. But right then, she looked lost and a little frightened.
“Oh, sweetie.” Ginger sat down against the wall next to her big sis and put her head on her shoulder.
“Ginger? You don’t know what I did, what happened, I, I—”
“You had the most incredible night of your life with two men who bit you and claimed you as their own?” she hazarded a guess.
“What?” Sage’s luminous eyes met Ginger’s and the two women both cried.
“It’ll be okay.” Ginger hugged Sage through the worst of it. Then it was explanation time.
“How come you are okay with all this?” Sage asked after Ginger told her about her night.
“I don’t know.” She shrugged. “Maybe it’s because I’ve been reading romance novels since I was knee high.” She snickered.
“No, but really, Sage, I mean my mates are just wonderful. Larger than life, you know, and so damn cute.” She felt both her males press against her mind and she shushed them away.
This was sister time. Not growly mate time.
“But they turn into animals,” Sage reasoned.
“Yes, they do. Misha is a fierce Kodiak Bear, and Ross is a gorgeous Elk. They were so gentle with me though. I loved it. Have you met your mates’ animals yet?”