Shifters with Secrets (An MMF Bisexual Threesome)(16)

Emphasis on the friends, but also the benefits.

“She’s an outsider,” Thomas said. “I don’t think she cares.”

Gavin finally cracked a smile.

“I don’t care about that,” he said, shifting the car into gear. “I don’t want her thinking we’re together. Ruins my chances of getting with her.”

Thomas made a noise somewhere between a growl and a laugh.

“Only if I don’t get with her first.”

“It’s been a while since we shared.”

Thomas grinned.

“Let’s go get her books back before we plan too much.”





***





The gravel drive to the Longs’ house was still winding, but at one in the afternoon, it was considerably less spooky than it had been the night before. Soon they were at the log-cabin-type house, then the two of them were knocking on the door.

Thomas could have come alone, but he didn’t want trouble. He just wanted the books back, and to put a little fear into Mrs. Long.

“Hi again, boys,” she said, smiling and opening the door. “Glenn’s not home now, either.”

“We actually weren’t looking for him,” Thomas said very, very politely.

Mrs. Long’s eyebrows went up.

Silently, Gavin held up the envelope.

“Is that an invitation?” she asked, her eyes flicking from one man to the other.

“Where are the books, Gretchen?” Thomas asked, controlling himself, but just barely. He felt as if his bear might jump out at any moment, and he was worried that he’d just rip out Gretchen’s throat — which wasn’t at all what he wanted.

“What books?” she said, her voice going hard and flat, her grip on the heavy wooden front door tightening.

Gavin put one hand on the door so she couldn’t close it.


“We know,” Thomas said, holding up the envelope with the card.

Gretchen’s eyes narrowed and she tried to push the door shut on them, but Gavin already had it, shoving her backwards with inhuman strength, and both men stepped into her house.

“Get out,” she said. “I know how to defend my territory.”

“The books,” Thomas said, his skin beginning to prickle.

“Glenn will hear all about this,” she said, looking like an animal backed into a corner. “You mark my words.”

Thomas heard a growl behind him and turned, only to see that Gavin had already shifted into an enormous, dark brown grizzly, teeth bared, fur gleaming in the light from the windows. Gretchen watched him, uncertainly.

“You’d never hurt me,” she said, though she didn’t sound totally confident. “Glenn and Kane would have you killed before you knew it.”

Thomas stepped forward, and now he towered over the woman. Even if she shifted, with Gavin behind him, she’d never win.

“Are you sure?” he asked.

Gretchen’s eyes glinted in fury, but Thomas could tell that she knew when she was beaten. She looked from Gavin to Thomas one more time, and then seemed to deflate slightly.

“They’re in the fire pit,” she said. “Out back.”

“You burned them?” growled Thomas, feeling his fury spike. Even without looking down, he could tell that his fingernails were lengthening into claws, no matter how hard he tried to hold himself back.

“It rained last night,” muttered Gretchen. “Not yet.”

“Show me,” ordered Thomas.

The three of them — two people and a bear — proceeded through the house and out the sliding door at the back, down steps to a fire pit.

Sure enough, there was an armful of books, with titles like Tall Tales of the ‘49ers and Folk Legends in Alta California.

Thomas collected them all, still damp, as Gretchen watched, glaring.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with good shifter girls,” she said, her voice low and dangerous. “Grow up. Have some cubs. Live the old ways.”

Thomas didn’t even bother to look back at her, and Gavin shifter back to human, the danger over.

“The world has moved on for a reason,” Gavin told her. “Maybe you should do the same.”

Then they walked back to his SUV, spread the books out across the back seat, got in, and drove away.





***





Gavin and Thomas didn’t discuss where they were going, but Thomas wasn’t at all surprised when they pulled up in front of the house where Sofia had her tiny studio sublet over the garage. It was a few hours later than when he’d last seen her, and he hoped she was feeling better — after all, he’d been able to practically smell her hangover when he’d seen her that morning.

“I’ll see you later?” said Gavin, giving Thomas kind of a strange look as he collected the books.

Thomas looked over his shoulder and at the outdoor staircase that led to Sofia’s place.

“Come up,” Thomas said. “Why not?”

Gavin slid the car into park, grabbed a few of the books, and followed Thomas up the stairs.





Chapter Ten





It had taken hours, but Sofia was finally feeling better. She’d drunk about a gallon of gatorade, then scarfed a breakfast burrito from the Mexican place across the street and put on jeans and a shirt rather than the sweatpants she’d gotten into.