Free Jessica's Wolves by Becca Jameson Page B

when I was ten, you wiseasses.”
    “And no one took you in? Educated you?”
    “Sure. The fucking state of Oregon took me in. A variety of human foster parents raised me. That’s why I’m so levelheaded. So incredibly not screwed up.”
    Both men gasped and held steady, only the subtle pressure on Jessica’s center and her shoulder indicating their reaction and support for her plight.
    She’d not meant to blurt out so much information, but they’d driven her to react with their teasing.
    “Oh, babe,” Charles began, “I’m so sorry. We had no idea.”
    “Of course not. I’ve never told anyone.”
    “No one?” Reese questioned. “Not even Kara? Lindsey?”
    “They know the gist, but not the nitty-gritty.” She looked both ways and then continued. “They don’t know I’m lupine.”
    “And why is that?” Reese kissed her cheek and nuzzled her neck before pulling back once more. “Why were you living in hiding, essentially?” He froze. “Is someone after you?”
    “No. No. Nothing like that. Unless you count the religious bastards who kidnapped me in the summer in an attempt to lure Lindsey for their arranged marriage.”
    Charles tensed. “I know about that too. I’m so sorry. That must have been awful.”
    “Scary, sure, but I knew what they wanted. I was just bait. I also knew there was a pack of angry wolves coming to my rescue, and not a chance in hell were they going to let anything happen to Lindsey. That was a secret neither the zealots nor my friends were privy to.”
    Reese shook her to get her attention. “You didn’t answer the question. Why so secretive? Your friends know all about us now. They think they are the ones keeping this crazy mess from you . Why the farce?”
    “It’s a long story.”
    “I’ve got all night. How about you, Reese?”
    Jess smiled. “That’s how long you’d have to wait because I don’t intend to tell that particular story right now. I barely know you. If I haven’t told Kara and Lindsey, what makes you think I’m gonna tell you?”
    “We’re your mates?” Charles offered.
    “Yeah, yeah. If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard that line.”
    Reese squeezed her belly, flexing his palm enough to press her into the bed.
    “Relax, tiger. I’m kidding.”
    Jessica’s stomach took that moment to growl.
    Charles flipped away from the bed and returned moments later with a tray in his hands. “Thought you might be hungry.”
    Finger foods of many varieties tantalized her senses as Jessica flicked Reese’s hand from her middle and sat. Without hesitation, she stuffed a small sandwich in her mouth. It hadn’t even occurred to her she was so hungry before.
    Both men settled against the headboard behind her while she ate. She’d not had a thing since her small breakfast this morning. Her stomach hadn’t been stable even then.
    She stuffed her face in silence. Grapes, apple wedges, carrots, triangles of sandwiches, cheese cubes, and a tall glass of water to wash it all down.
    She wasn’t unaware of the men behind her with their hands on her back, but she was suddenly so ravenous she didn’t pay them much mind.
    That is until she was satisfied. Grabbing a chocolate chip cookie from the tray, she slowed to reasonable pace, enjoyed the smooth dark chips, and swallowed her dessert after chewing it.
    Reese took the tray without a word and set it aside. Both men nudged her to lie back between them.
    Her senses returned in full force since she was no longer starving … for food.
    Hands stroked her everywhere. Reese leaned over her, his broad shoulders so wide she couldn’t see around him. He was bronzed and so muscular his T-shirt stretched tight across him. Jessica stared at his pecs, fighting the need to lay both her palms across the expanse of male hardness.
    She needed to get out from under him, wiggle away before her mind turned to mush again.
    This was not in the plan, damn it.
    His deep blue gaze burrowed into her until she couldn’t avoid