Wrapped Up in Stripes (Blue Valley Shifters Book 1) Read online

  “Indeed,” Mason muttered, trying to take in everything his eyes were seeing. It was a heady scene. He and Wade had frequented private fetish clubs many times and enjoyed the lighter side of BDSM with many partners, but this environment was so different from the dark clubs he was used to. Enjoying a taste of the lifestyle out in the open sun and warm summer air added another layer of decadence he hadn’t been expecting.

  “Let’s split up and see if we can find out more about these wristbands.” Wade donned his sunglasses. “I’ll start on the other side of the bar.”

  “I’ll bet you will.” Mason rolled his eyes when he spotted the large group of topless women who were enjoying some body shots from a very enthusiastic bartender. “Let me know if you find anything of note.”

  Chapter Six

  Heidi’s jaw just about dropped when they walked out onto the aft deck pool area where their liaison had told them most of the sensual volunteers spent their time. The other side of the boat was for relaxing and fun water activities … this area was designated for enjoyment of a different kind, and her stomach fluttered in anticipation as her eyes tried to take it all in.

  “Holy shit,” she whispered to Julie as they made their way to the long bar. “This looks like some kind of kinky Arabian Nights fantasy.”

  Overhead, the deck was decorated in gauzy, flowing white panels that moved in the wind. In the background, low and sexy music played without being distracting, while the soft scent of coconut oil and sweet pineapple tickled her nose.

  “Drinks first, I think.” Julie grabbed her hand and pulled her up to sit at the polished wood countertop.

  “Good afternoon, ladies,” an extremely handsome bartender smiled at them as he leaned in close. “Welcome to the Wild Side, my name is Constantine. Am I correct in assuming this is your first voyage with us?”

  “As a matter of fact it is, handsome. I’m Julie, and this is Heidi. What do you recommend to take the edge off?” Julie flirted shamelessly with the adorable blond.

  Heidi wondered what it was about them that screamed ‘first-timers’ until her already-wide eyes reached the other side of the pool area and she took in the scenes playing out under the decadent golden canopies.

  Constantine chuckled at her gasp before she managed to close her mouth and pretend that she wasn’t staring outright at the couples making use of the facilities. Her heart raced and her excitement threatened to boil over. Many of the other people lounging by the pool and bar were totally nude, with no one paying too much attention—shifters in general didn’t make a big deal about casual nudity. But most of the couples playing at the stations on the other side of the pool were wearing swim suits or wraps. It struck her as funny, how adding clothing could make something sexier.

  “Here, I know exactly what you two need to get you started—it’s my specialty.” He winked, and Heidi blushed as he followed it up with a lingering perusal of her bikini-clad cleavage.

  A few minutes later, he slid two fancy glasses across the bar, both filled to the brim with a delicious-looking blended concoction. She moaned as the first taste of paradise hit her tongue. It was like a chi-chi, the coconut and pineapple instantly recognizable, but then the taste of peaches mixed with rum and something else she couldn’t quite identify followed—whatever it was, Heidi was certain she could drink about a thousand of them.

  After he’d finished serving their drinks, he looked past them and motioned someone over. “Serge, set up two massage cabanas for these lovely ladies so that they can unwind properly.”

  “Of course.” Serge offered his hands to both her and Julie.

  “If there is any way I can be of further service, you know where to find me.” His gaze was directly on Heidi when he added, “I am off shift tonight if you’re looking for someone to explore with.”

  She blushed again and thanked him as Julie gave her a knowing smile before they followed Serge to the cabanas. As they reached the first one, another handsome male stepped out and smiled at them, motioning Julie to join him. Serge then urged Heidi into the next cabana and she followed him inside.

  “You’ve had a massage before, miss?” he asked before walking over to the small table filled with various bottles.

  “Yes, I love them.”

  “Good, will you allow me to choose a scented oil for you?”

  “Please,” she answered, grabbing the crisp sheet that was folded atop the massage table. She wrapped it around herself, then removed her bikini pieces and set them on the chair next to her. He gave her time to hop on the table while his back was turned, and when she was settled comfortably with the sheet draped across her back, he smiled and drew back the sides of the cabana letting the cool ocean breeze tickle her heated skin.

  “Do you like it?” he brought a small vial closer to her face and the warm scent of vanilla and sweet freesia flowers brought a smile to her face.

  “I love it—freesias are my favorite.” She looked at him in surprise, and he just smiled back.

  “Their sweetness compliments your own natural scent. Now just relax, and let’s get this vacation started properly.”

  His hands were magic as they soothed away any tension Heidi had, and the soft scent of the oil combined with the alcohol that the bartender put in that drink left her in a contented haze. Every now and then, however, she would peek open an eye and look over to the recreation area. A woman was tied up over a bench of some kind, and her partner was spanking her with a large, round wooden paddle. Heidi was shocked at how arousing the picture was—the man would take breaks to caress the woman’s ass, seeming to be fascinated with the change in hue to a rosy pink, until the woman was pleading for him to continue.

  The combination of watching their scene and having Serge’s strong, warm hands moving on her skin was beginning to heat her own blood. Finally, she closed her eyes and put her head back down. Several minutes later she heard a deep voice speak out beside her. “May I?”

  “Miss, a patron would like to continue with your massage.” Serge’s hands left her skin. “Are you amenable?”

  Heidi lifted her head from the table and froze when her gaze met a pair of deep-green eyes surrounded by thick, dark lashes. Her heart skipped a beat when the handsome stranger smiled. His rugged features and shoulder-length dark hair looked slightly out of place surrounded by the immaculately groomed staff, but his masculine presence made her lioness chuff in interest. His posture nagged at the back of her mind in a familiar way, until she realized—this was one of the men who had caught her interest back in the terminal.

  Was she amenable to having his hands on her? If you say no, I’ll maim you in your sleep, her lioness snarled in her head.

  “Sure,” she answered shyly as Serge left them to get acquainted. “I’m Heidi.”

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Heidi. I’m Wade.” He took the hand she held out and placed a kiss on the back of it, causing a zing of electricity to move up her arm.

  His intake of breath matched her own, his eyes turned from teasing to something much more serious. She watched as he ran his nose along her wrist taking in her scent, and the low growl that escaped his lips made her tremble all over.

  What was happening to her? She’d never had such a visceral reaction to a male before, and it scared her just a little. It was as if her lioness was prepared to give over complete control to this man they had just met—which honestly wasn’t like her at all. Her cat was a bossy little bitch about most other things, and Heidi had to rein that impulse in a lot.

  It was times like these that she’d realized how much she missed out on, having grown up in a house full of men. She would’ve been able to have conversations with her mom about the difference between regular sexual attraction and the draw of a mate, but that was just not something her dear old dad was comfortable speaking to his only daughter about. So, was this just a hormonal overload or was it something … more?

  “Mmm—my tiger can’t wait to get his paws on all of these beautiful curves,” he murmured
as he finally released her hand and gently urged her to lay back down on the table.

  Was he a tiger, then? That certainly explained the size of him—he was even larger than her older brother Hector, and that was saying a lot. She heard the rustle of fabric and looked up to see him pull his t-shirt off over his head, revealing dark, tanned skin and a thick, muscled chest that would make any female drool. Heidi had to fight the urge to sit up and wrap her arms around those wide shoulders. Her inner cat was yowling at her to lean in and taste his skin, to take in his scent and roll around in it. While her mind was trying to overthrow her manners, her body was betraying her as well as it heated up, her lower regions growing slick with want as she imagined his hands moving over her naked body.

  “Really?” Her voice was shaky, betraying her excitement more than she would have liked.

  “Oh, yes,” he answered back, stepping closer. She could feel the heat coming off of his skin. “I noticed you at the bar in that delectable little red bikini—you drew my gaze like a magnet. I waited to approach you as long as my beast would let me … there’s something about you that he finds irresistible.”

  “My lioness seems to be drawn to you as well,” she softly admitted before stifling a moan when his hands fully connected with the skin on her back.

  His touch this time was firm and delicious as he began to massage her. Heidi tried to pinpoint what she was feeling aside from the lust that was building, and to her surprise, it seemed to be—contentment? Could that be right? For the first time in her life, this man’s hands made her feel like she belonged underneath them.

  Chapter Seven

  Wade had noticed the supple little female as soon as she’d walked onto the deck, her wavy blonde hair beckoning with its contrasting shades of gold dancing in the breeze off the ocean. She had plenty of curves, just like he and Mason preferred. Her red bikini had a retro style to it that complimented her figure perfectly, and he found himself wishing away the wrap tied around her waist so that he could take in her full glory.

  When she and her friend turned to leave the bar, he was mesmerized by the gentleness of her face. She had a beautiful, lush mouth and stunning blue eyes that twinkled when she smiled—which he had a feeling she did often. There was a serene aura to her, one that called to both the man and the beast within. Her laughter drifted across the pool towards him like a siren's call, making him desperate to go to her side. Wade couldn’t believe his luck when he saw that they were making their way to the massage cabanas, as he knew patrons were allowed to request the privilege to cut in if the partner was willing—and boy, was he willing.

  As much as he knew he and Mason were here for business, not pleasure, there was something about this little female that his tiger would simply not let lie, and he wasn’t about to let her get scooped up by some other male. His eyes searched for Mason and finally found him near the play lounge observing a few of the scenes. When Wade caught his attention, he motioned him to follow as he hurried to track down his prey.

  Sweet Goddess, her skin looked luminous as she lay face-down on the massage table, she was a shade of pale cream that would contrast nicely with his own golden tan. Wade had to stop his cat from ripping the young masseuse's arms off as he watched the other male run his hands all over the body that Wade was suddenly thinking of as belonging to him—that was odd.

  He didn’t have time to ponder why his tiger was getting so territorial as he noticed a couple other males who’d been edging their way closer with undisguised interest, most likely thinking about doing the exact same thing he was.

  “May I?” He cleared his throat and stepped up to the staff member. He could see a small kernel of disappointment on the male’s face, but it was his job to step aside and let the guests and volunteers mingle. When the masseur asked the female for her permission, her quiet, ‘sure’, had his cock twitching in interest at the melodic sound of her voice.

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Heidi. I’m Wade.” He couldn’t wait to feel the first soft caress of her skin, and when his lips touched her hand, it was if his entire being lit on fire. He couldn’t have stopped himself from scenting her even if he’d wanted to—which he didn’t. She smelled like vanilla, which he could tell was the massage oil, but her underlying natural scent reminded him of a fragrant, ripe peach. His mouth watered as he imagined tasting her everywhere.

  She’s special, this female, she may be our one. He was surprised at his tiger's declaration, but delightfully so. He’d never imagined the Goddess would bless him with such a beautiful mate. When she admitted to her own inner cat’s interest, he was triumphant.

  That’s because you’re ours, his cat wanted him to roar so that everyone knew they’d claimed her … but the human in him knew that would not be received well. She seemed a timid little thing, and he didn’t want to scare her off. Wade had just poured more of the scented oil along her back and fully rested his hands on her supple skin when Mason stepped up to the cabana with a predatory but pleased look on his face.

  “I see you did find something of note after all.” Mason’s smile grew when Heidi gasped and raised her head. “Hello, sweetness. I’ve been looking for you.”

  At first, her big blue eyes just stared at Mason, then they moved back to Wade before returning to his friend.

  “You—you have?” she almost whispered.

  Wade could feel the tension in her back, and he realized that she was probably wondering what their intentions were, but it appeared this little lioness and Mason’s mystery woman at the terminal was one in the same. He wasn’t surprised when his tiger had no issue with sharing their mate with their best friend—as long as they got to keep her, his animal side seemed more than content with the situation.

  He resumed the long, soothing strokes down her back with the palms of his hands and whispered in her ear.

  “Mason told me that he’d seen someone special in the terminal when we were going through security. I thought he might be exaggerating about how perfect you were—but now that I have my hands on you, sweet little Heidi, I can see that he was right.”

  “Mason,” she repeated as though familiarizing herself with the sound of it, a small smile hovering on her soft, pink lips, “Mason and Wade.”

  “Mmm, I do like the sound of our names on your lips. May I join you?” Mason asked as he began to unbutton his shirt and shrug it off, “You know what they say, right? That four hands are better than two.”

  Wade could see the light blush that swept over her face at Mason’s suggestion, but he could also smell the peak in her arousal at the offer of having both of them tend to her. She bit her lower lip and nodded her acceptance, then laid her head back down on the table, and that slightly innocent gesture had him needing to adjust his cock in his shorts as it quickly ran out of room. Their little Heidi seemed to be such a contradiction. Her innocent expressions, combined with the drop-dead sexy curves to make any man hard with just a sway of her hips, was driving Wade to distraction. But it was the sinfully sweet sound that escaped her luscious lips in a moan when Mason finally joined him and placed his hands on her as well that made up his mind—she was the one.

  Chapter Eight

  Mason’s groan matched Heidi’s as he ran his palms along the silky skin of her legs—he was fascinated by the contrast of her milky white skin against his own darker hands. Wade passed him the massage oil and he dripped some along her calf, using deliberate pressure to rub it in and make his way down to her dainty foot.

  He could feel a connection to this female in every fiber of his being. He’d never been so drawn to anyone before. Mason raised his eyes to look at Wade. The look of adoration on his best friend’s face as he gazed down at his own hands rubbing the muscles along her shoulders was enough to tell him that Wade was probably feeling the very same.

  “That feels amazing,” Heidi groaned again, her body trembling under their hands. “You two are very good at this.”

  “We’re happy to be of service,” Wade answered, “and we do m
any things well together. Perhaps we could show you?”

  Mason could feel the slight tension in her muscles at Wade’s flirtatious words, and he felt the need to reassure her that they were interested in more than just sex. He had a feeling by her reaction when he’d asked to join them that she’d never indulged in being shared by two men before. His tiger preened inside that they would be the first ones to show her the pleasures of a ménage—and once they mated her, she would have two strong males to provide for and protect her for a lifetime.

  “Would you join us for dinner tonight, Heidi?” he asked, trying to dial down the intensity that his tiger was feeling as they touched her, “We would like the opportunity to get to know you better.”

  Immediately, she relaxed under their fingers, and Mason’s cat was pleased that he was able to address her unease—they needed to know how to care for their mate.

  “I would like that.” She sighed as their hands continued to move along her skin.

  With every caress, Mason’s own arousal increased at a steady pace, but when the warm, soft scent of her sensual interest filled the cabana, his fingers took on a slightly less professional technique. Goddess, how he wanted her. His shaft was already thick in his shorts, and with every little sigh or moan that left her body, his imagination began to run wild with the delicious things they could do with her between them.

  ****

  Heidi’s brain was having a difficult time functioning. Her body was going into overdrive as the strong, yet soft massage had taken on a much more sensual note than it had with Serge. Damned if she wasn’t responding like the two handsome strangers had been handling much more intimate areas.

  Her nipples were hard and rubbing against the soft sheet below her with every shift of her body. Her pussy was wet and aching for Mason’s hands to move higher up her legs to where she needed his touch the most. What was it about these two men that made her feel so at home with them? At home and, well—horny, if she were being honest. Heidi wanted to throw off the sheet and attack Mason and Wade until they were all lying spent in a post-orgasmic haze.