Page 49 of Fated Redemption
“Not yet, but you will.” It took a second to understand his double entendre. Practically skipping behind them, she heard Giddey muttering under his breath about how damn lucky she was. She had to agree.
The change to Rhys was immediate. The second he stepped behind the bar, his entire body practically slumped forward in relief. When he stood, he stood straighter than she had seen thus far. He was smiling and laughing with Peyton and some of the early birds. His eyes danced as he introduced some of the bar’s regulars. She waved at everyone, then walked over to the bar to get herself a Diet Coke.
Looking over to where he stood with a group of older ladies, she sighed happily, here was a man that had lived through countless centuries. His confidence was intoxicating. “You see it don’t you?” Moe asked as he walked up behind her and pulled her into his arms. She nodded and leaned back, resting her head against his chest.
“Does he realize it?”
“Not yet. He doesn’t have any symptoms when he’s at the bar and in his element.”
“Which points to the fact that the addiction may be more mental than physical?”
“I’m afraid so.” Moe pulled her backward and they walked into the large walk-in freezer. He shut the door and turned to her his eyes sad.
“I don’t gossip, and I normally wouldn’t betray Rhys, but you’re his mate too, and I feel like you have a right to know.” He took a deep breath.
“I caught him cutting the other night. He says it helps with the addiction, like he’s letting out all of the blood he was forced to ingest.” Moe’s hands clenched at his sides.
Abby was in front of him in seconds. She wrapped her arms around his waist and rubbed her face on his chest.
“You’re not alone in this anymore, Moe. We’ll help him overcome this. You no longer have to shoulder this burden by yourself,” she whispered.
“I love Rhys, Abby, and I know that, given time, I will fall completely in love with you too. You’re the light that we were missing in our lives. But, I have been watching over Rhys for a month now. He doesn’t know it, but I would shift and sit in the tree outside his window some nights. I’m a spider monkey when I shift.” He looked down bashfully.
“There’s nothing wrong with that.” She kissed his chest and he continued.
“He always seemed calmer when I was there. At first I was simply excited to have met my mate. When I heard how he was almost executed on Christmas Eve, I was overwhelmed with gratitude that Fate would give me such a miracle. But, it has been hard. Every cell in my body wants to claim him.” Moe sagged against her, resting his chin on the top of her head.
“He was supposed to be executed?”
“He was forced to drink shifter blood. It made him feral and an addict. The shifter council gave Gabriel thirty days to see if hecould rehabilitate him. Christmas Eve, his eyes were still red and he was still crazed, so they sent a Sentinel to execute him. From what I heard, Fate acted through Rebecca and her Inner Court. Rhys’s eyes turned from red to green and he was spared.”
Abby leaned into her mate. “I have seen some amazing things in my travels. I have seen Fate step in and change lives before, it’s why I am not fighting this mating one bit. It’s why I am not holding back and giving myself to you and Rhys one-hundred percent. Mating isn’t about insta-love or insta-trust, that has to be earned over time, and you and Rhys have that. Eventually the three of us will get there. But, for now I feel like I have to tell you that you may be handling his addiction wrong.” She felt him tense up. She quickly tried to explain what she meant.
“At first what you did was exactly what he needed. You didn’t rush him and watched over him right? But, after a while I think you ignored what Fate had intended for you to do, which enabled Rhys to exacerbate the issue. If you had pressed your claim, he would have seen for himself that your blood would not affect him. Now, it’s built up in his mind that he’ll hurt you, us. Like a virgin, the longer you wait to do the deed, the scarier it will seem.”
“What can we do now?”
“Seduce him and I hate to say it, we need him to drink from us. We need to create an environment where he feels like he has a safety net. I think I am your safety net. Fate gave you what you needed for this mating to work.”
“What do you get? You’re not just the fix to my relationship with Rhys.” Moe pulled back and ran his hand along her cheek.
She flushed, embarrassed.
“The two of you are perfect for me. You and Rhys don’t look at my body and see something imperfect or weight to lose. I’ve only recently come to terms with how I look and started loving myself. You accept me as I am. You have no idea how much thatmeans. You are the rock I need. Cassie is right, I can sometimes create a bit of a mess. You are so calm, it’s like you’re this unmoveable mountain in a sea of chaos, uh me being the chaos. I need you to keep me from flying apart. Rhys when he is more himself feeds into my fun loving side. I can see that Rhys and I will be the ones playing jokes and pulling you in every direction. You will protect my heart, he will feed my mind, but both of you together will be my soul.”
Moe’s eyes had a fine sheen to them. Unable to say anything, he pulled her into his arms and nearly crushed her in his embrace. She smiled against the hard muscles of his body.
“And it’s my ultimate fantasy to be taken by two men. So, being in a ménage really is perfect for me.” Abby bit at the spot over his chest where she had claimed him playfully. Against her stomach she felt him begin to grow hard.
This time when he pulled back his gray eyes weren’t soft, they had darkened to an unreadable black.
“AbbyGirl, you will be the death of me.”
“Only little ones.” She grinned up at him impishly. He shook his head and stepped back. He adjusted his cock in his jeans, wincing.
“Grab a case of beer. The quicker we start the evening the quicker we can end it, then maybe you will get your fantasy.” With a gleam in his eye, his hand moved quicker than she could follow and he grabbed the crotch of her jeans roughly. He gave a quick squeeze, purposefully dragging his finger from the back of her jeans to her front hitting every one of her sensitive spots. He removed his hand and headed out the door, whistling. He turned just his head and grinned at her.
“You and Rhys aren’t the only ones who know how to play.” With that he walked out of the freezer leaving her overheated and panting.
