“No.” Hale shook off his pain and stood with his hands on his hips. “You're not going anywhere until we hash this out.” He walked over to the counter and reached into a drawer for something before turning back to Robbie. Paige wasn't sure what to do for him. Robbie scared her like this, so out of control.
She gave Hale credit for sheer stubbornness and prayed he would live to
not
regret his decision.
Robbie roared again, in a maddened state. But before he could reach Hale, he faltered. A large dart had pierced his left pectoral, and Paige realized Hale must have thrown it. Robbie took another few steps, then fell into Hale's waiting arms.
He grunted as he caught Robbie's bulk. “Paige, help me put him up on the bed.” She hurried to help him.
“Stay here. There's something I need to get.” Hale typed in a code and opened the door, exited, and returned minutes later with several restraints.
She shook her head. “They won't hold him.”
“They will.” Hale gave her a small smile “These were designed with Circs in mind. As was the bed.”
Hale and Paige fastened Robbie's wrists and ankles to the bed's iron spindles, then stood back.
“He's not going to wake up for a few hours. Why don't we take a shower? I think you're still a bit covered in, ah…” He paused and blushed.
Paige thought it a delightful mix of vulnerability and warrior. “In cum?” She wanted to laugh at his expression, but worry for Robbie stole her humor.
“He'll be okay, Paige. And you know why?”
“Why?” Her eyes filled. She knew Hale and Robbie were her mates. They'd accepted her, or so she'd thought. So why was Robbie so determined to reject her yet again?
“Because Robbie has a mate who loves him more than he knows.” Hale kissed her softly. “And another mate who will grow to love him just as much. This isn't an easy thing for most Circs. It wasn't easy for me, and I'm pretty open to a lot. I'd never anticipated two mates, and certainly not a male. But I'm in tune with my beast, and he knows what he wants—you and Robbie.” He sighed. “We'll make this work, I promise.
I think I might have a few ideas as to why our Robbie is so freaked. Come on, let's clean up. I'll feed you, make love to you a few more times, and then we'll wait for the big lug to wake up.”
Soothed by what Hale had just admitted, she couldn't help the worry for her other, more difficult mate. “Do you think he'll be okay?” She loved Robbie so much. She couldn't let him come to harm because of anything she'd done. Their loving had felt so right. So why was he so upset?
“I know he will.” Hale chucked her chin. “Come on,
mate
. Let me take care of you, the way Robbie will when he's on his feet again.” She let him pull her into the oversize shower and accepted his embrace. The tears started the minute his hands settled onto her shoulders. But true to his word, Hale cared for her. His gentleness soothed her, his hands and lips aroused her, and his strength of spirit gave her hope. Hale wouldn't let them fall apart. She had to believe.
And for once, she had to be strong. Robbie needed her help. She wouldn't let him down now.
Hours later, Robbie blinked his eyes open. It took him a moment to remember what he'd done, but when he did, he wanted to die of shame.
“Hey now, it's okay.” Hale's voice pleased him. But the guilt that followed brought tears to his eyes. God, Paige had been right. He'd
raped
Hale.
“I'm so sorry,” he said thickly, knowing words could never make anything right.
He tried to sit up and found himself unable. Pulling at his arms and legs, he glanced around and saw what looked like manacles tying him to the bed frame. And who could blame them for wanting the monster out of commission? “Where's Paige?” he forced himself to ask, feeling even worse at seeing Hale in his smaller, frailer human body.
“She's getting us some food from upstairs. She didn't want to leave you, but I made her show the others we're okay.” Hale paused, the seriousness in his hazel eyes making Robbie want to weep. Hale was his mate. His to protect, to care for. And he'd hurt him, badly. He dimly remembered the snap of bone and the splatter of blood. But Hale looked no worse for wear in his jeans and nothing else. He looked
GQ
handsome—his chest, face, and arms perfectly formed.
Thank God for Circ genetics.
“If you let me go, I swear, I'll never come near you or Paige ever again.” Christ, it hurt to say that. “I don't deserve you, I know that. But I can still be of use. Let me infiltrate Pearson Labs. We have a plan in place, one that's coming to an end—”
“Shut up.” Hale frowned. “What the hell is wrong with you? We had some really hot sex. You were great. I came. Paige came so damned hard, she got me stirred again.
And then you wigged out.”
McKinley opened his mouth but didn't know what to say.
“Tell me why you started trashing the room. What was all that crap about 'not Paige,' 'never Paige,' because she thinks you don't want her.”
“No, no. That's…hell.” McKinley took a deep breath. “I've loved her for so long.” He had to make Hale understand. The male would look out for Paige once he was gone.
“I've never wanted anyone else the way I wanted her. And you,” he added quietly, not sure about the pleasure that seemed to flare in Hale's eyes. Surely, he'd imagined it. “I hurt you, and I hurt her.”
A tear trickled down his cheek, the shame making him feel smaller than he'd ever been in his life. “I took you against your will. I forced Paige to have sex. I thought that by getting it out of my system at the clubs, the ugliness would never touch her. Never dirty her with my perversions,” he whispered and closed his eyes.
“Clubs?”
McKinley opened his eyes, expecting to see Hale's disgust. Instead, he saw curiosity. Maybe Hale didn't understand. “The dark places where I go to relieve the ache. I have sex with men I don't know and don't want to know. We hit each other.
Blood pain. It's the only way I can get off. But it never helps. I didn't want that for Paige. And I didn't want it for you.”
Hale nodded. “Right. No pain for me, because Circs are so damned fragile.” Hale rolled his eyes. “You are one stupid ass.”
Not expecting that reaction, McKinley could only blink up at him.
“You spent at least three years with Elliot Pearl at Pearson Labs. Didn't you ever learn about the mating heat?”
“Of course I did.” McKinley might be a sick bastard, but he wasn't stupid.
“Then you know a Circ can only be satisfied by another Circ. Hell, the first mating heats my squad went through were bloodier and more violent than that little episode we had earlier. It took us a long time before we could contain ourselves, coming without nearly killing each other. The females help tame that. They normally don't tolerate blood unless they're spilling it. Don't get me started on Caitlyn.” At the name, McKinley grimaced.
“Why do you do that? Whenever Ca—her name is mentioned, you freeze up.”
“I don't know. It hurts me to think of her. I can't explain it.”
“Then explain something else.” Hale placed a hand on his chest, and McKinley's whole body eased at the comfort, except for his cock, which hardened noticeably. “Have you ever had sex with a Circ? Besides me and Paige, I mean.”
“No.”
If you could call what I did having sex.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Hale stared at him in amazement.
“No. Neither has Paige. During the times when she needs, she seeks other men. It never bothered me, because I knew I couldn't have her without hurting her. But when she had you, another Circ…I was jealous.”
“Holy shit.” Hale shook his head. “Now listen up, you monster. Like I said. A Circ can only be satisfied by another Circ. Humans can't fill the need we have to procreate.
That's why when you're screwing those men and getting off on the blood, it's because your beast needs to sate a hunger. It can't get the Circ cum it needs, so it uses the blood as a substitute. Damn. That was one of the first things Doc warned us about. Why do you think so many rogues are killing humans when they escape? It's because they can't control themselves. It's a miracle you haven't killed anyone during sex. How long have you had the mating heats?”
McKinley stared, not sure whether to believe him. “Ten years or more. I don't know. I just dealt with it.”
Paige suddenly stepped out of the bathroom wearing a long shirt. She stood tall but human, her eyes glassy. “Exactly. You dealt with it. The same way I did.”
“You said she was getting us food.”
“I lied.” Hale smiled, a true expression of happiness. “Dumbass. Of course you would never hurt Paige. It's obvious to anyone with a pulse how much you love her.
But didn't you see that little bitch in heat?”
“Hey.” Paige glared at Hale, but McKinley sensed an easiness between them that hadn't been there prior to their joining.
“Sorry. But it's true. When Paige was in heat, she didn't want nice. She didn't want gentle. She wanted to be owned, taken. Tell him.”
“As arrogant as he sounds, Hale's right.” Paige smiled down at him, her expression so sweet, Robbie wanted to crawl into a hole, not worthy of such affection.
“Robbie, listen to me. My beast was never happy with those human men I had to sleep with. Hell, I used to go through a good three or four of them just to get a decent night's sleep where I wasn't crawling out of my own skin. And I was probably as rough with them as you were with your own lovers. But my first time with Hale was so different. I wanted to sleep there in his arms, forever.”
Hale threw an arm around her shoulders and hugged her tight, tugging the large shirt she wore, emphasizing her curves. “So did I. It's been a lot easier being Circ with the others here. Sex with them was a necessity, but we survived a helluva lot better than you two did on your own. Jesus, I still can't believe you never even turned to each other.”
Paige wouldn't look at him. “I wanted to, but Robbie didn't want me.” Could what they were saying be true? “That's bullshit, Paige. I wanted you then, the way I want you now. I just couldn't stand the thought of hurting you. I'm a big man,” he said, feeling his cheeks flush when both Hale and Paige stared at his raging hard-on. “And I'm not gentle. Paige, I didn't want you to see me that way.”
“But I needed to. Didn't you feel how right it was? It wasn't dirty, Robbie. It wasn't wrong. I'm not normal, not human. I need more than simple lovemaking.” She wiped at a tear. “Am I terrible for that?”
“Hell, no.” Robbie pulled at his arms, wanting to soothe her. “Paige, honey, I'm sorry. I don't want you to cry. I just…hell. I don't know. I thought I'd hurt you. Are you telling me I didn't?” He looked to Hale. “I heard your pain when I violated you,” he admitted. “And it turned me on. That's sick!”
“No, that's Circ,” Hale said with a grin. “Robbie, we're not human, like Paige said.
Get your mind out of the notion of labeling everything. There's no gay or straight, no kink or perv. We're Circ, and we have special needs. I like it rough. Paige likes it rough.
But we also like it softer. Like when you took me in my bedroom.” Paige's eyes widened. “And when I fucked Paige that second time against the car door. Or in the shower stall an hour ago.” His gaze was tender as it rested on Paige, then McKinley.
“Do you understand what I'm saying? All of us. Roane, Zack, Ace, Derrick, and me. Caitlyn, Sabrina, and Kelly. Now you and Paige. We all need more than what's considered 'normal.' It doesn't make us bad or wrong. Just different.” Paige joined Robbie on the bed and kissed him on the mouth. “Another thing Hale and I talked about, this—us—is new. It's super intense right now. But it won't always be so powerful when we're together. Well, maybe it will. Hale tells me I'm hell on wheels.”
“Damn right,” Hale murmured.
“You're perfect,” Robbie agreed.
“I liked it when you grabbed my hair. When you showed me your strength and took charge, my beast was orgasmic. I liked it when you topped Hale too.” Hale gave them a mock frown. “I'm not always gonna be on the bottom, Robbie.
The point is, what we did was perfect
for us
. Paige is right for you and me. And you're right for us. I won't lie and say we're all in a happily-ever-after. I just met Paige, and you and I don't really know each other. I sure the hell haven't known you as long as you've known each other. But we're all connected. I'd die for either of you. My beast knows it. I know it.” Hale paused. “Don't stop this before it has a chance. I always knew I'd spot my mates when I laid eyes on them. And I did. It's you and Paige.” McKinley lay there, too stunned to move. All that he'd thought about himself came into question. Could he be normal for a Circ? Was he just a man, needing more?
He'd grown up mostly on his own. The things he'd seen at Pearson Labs and in those clubs made the sex he needed seem more like a perversion than clean, clear need.
“Let us show you.” Paige nodded at Hale.
“Yeah, that's a damned good idea. You've got such a handsome cock. And look at the size of him, Paige. We can't let that go to waste.” The sparkle in Hale's eyes told him to be wary. The Circ was trying to charm McKinley into a better mood, and damn, it was working.
“Ooh, you're right.”
“As usual.”
“You wish.” Paige flirted, teasing them both by lifting the hem of the large shirt she wore. Flashes of her pussy had McKinley aching. And the scent of the three of them together made him want to experience it again. “But I'm hungry. I never did get any dinner.”
“Good point. Neither did I.”
In seconds, both his mates took off their clothing and sat on either side of him on the bed. When they continued to stare at his groin, he swallowed hard and groaned.
“Don't, please. I don't want to hurt you.” He tried to resist. But their words circled in his mind. What if they could make it work? What if he could finally find heaven in Paige's body? In Hale's strong arms?
“Shut up and take it like a man,” Paige barked. She winked at Hale. “Did that sound right?”
He nodded at McKinley's dick. “Not yet. Why don't we show him what he's missing with all that misplaced guilt? And maybe, if he's really good, I'll show him what it's like to be on the bottom.”