The Power of Three by Kate Pearce

Soreya’s throat where she wanted it.
    Suddenly embarrassed to have intruded, she
covered her mouth with her hand and retreated to the relative
safety of her own room.
    * * *
    Ash stayed put until his breathing returned
to normal and then carefully pulled out. “You knew she was there,
didn’t you?”
    Esca turned toward him. “Yeah, I was hoping
she’d be brave enough to come and join in. She certainly thought
about it.”
    “ You’re going too fast.” Ash shoved his
now-disordered hair back behind his ear. “You shouldn’t go around
trying to manipulate people.”
    Esca’s smile died. “Why not? You do it for a
freking living. She’s our mate.”
    “ We don’t know that yet.”
    “ She’s our mate .”
    Their eyes met and held. “Then at least give
her the courtesy of some space to make up her own mind.”
    “ Like you are?” Esca shoved past him.
“If I wait for you to declare yourself she’ll be back in
Etrusca.”
    “ And maybe that’s what she
wants.”
    “ You think she’d prefer certain death
to being our mate?”
    “ She ran away from you once before, so
maybe she does.”
    “ Don’t be so freking superior. This is
all because you’re too scared to get involved with her.”
    Ash moved toward his door, scooping up his
clothes as he went. “Good night, Esca.”
    “ Coward.”
    He wanted to turn back and plant his fist
right in his lover’s face but that wasn’t his style. Esca was the
only person in the universe who could make him contemplate physical
violence.
    “ She’s got it all wrong, Ash. She
thinks she’s going to fall into bed with every Pavlovan male who
kisses her.”
    Ash paused, his palm flat on the door. “So
what do you suggest?”
    “ We take her out and let her kiss a
few?”
    Never .
    He didn’t reply, just pushed open his door,
went inside and took the longest shower of his life. By the time he
emerged, the apartment was silent and his cock was sore from his
constant handling. He kept seeing that image Esca had sent him of
Soreya beneath him, her mouth open as she climaxed, and feeling the
clenching of her inner core around Esca’s driving cock.
    He climbed wearily into bed. He couldn’t stop
thinking about her. Perhaps Esca was right. Maybe it was time for
him to stop being a coward and help Soreya understand her choices.
If she wouldn’t accept help from him or Esca, perhaps he needed to
find a more impartial observer.
     
    * * * * *
     

Chapter 8
     
    “ I’m so glad you could come out with us
tonight.” Dr. Mayek smiled at Soreya. “We’ve all been wondering how
you’re getting on.”
    “ Yeah, with those two awesomely hot men.”
    Soreya smiled at her research partner, Dr.
Bev Crozen but she didn’t say anything. She took refuge in her
drink and checked out the bar her coworker had insisted she come to
after their shift was over. She felt conspicuous in her Etruscan
uniform, but no one seemed to mind.
    “ So how is it?” Bev nudged
Soreya.
    “ It’s okay.”
    “ Okay?” Bev snorted. “You’re shacked up
with two of the most beautiful men on the planet, and it’s
just okay ?”
    Dr. Mayek patted Bev’s knee. “Maybe she
doesn’t want to talk about them.”
    “ Why not? Gods, if I was sharing an
apartment with those two, I’d be yelling it from the rooftops.” She
leaned in close. “Which one’s better in bed? Which one’s
bigger?”
    “ Bev!” Dr. Mayek was bright red. “I’m
sorry Soreya. She’s so nosy.”
    “ I understand.” She smiled briefly.
“Actually, they’ve both been very kind and patient with
me.”
    “ Which roughly translated means the
three of you aren’t in a relationship yet?” Bev nodded at Mayek. “I
told you.”
    “ Not officially.” Soreya sighed. “It’s
hard for me to get my head around all this openness about being a
telepath, let alone the concept of having two lovers.”
    “ I’m sure it is.” Dr. Mayek agreed.
“It’s good that they’re giving you some space.”
    Soreya finished